After the events related in the last chapter, the monitresses suddenly awakened to a sense of their responsibility as leaders of the school. Particularly Veronica. She had a sensitive disposition, and Miss Beasley's reproof rankled. She determined to set an example to the younger ones, and to be zealous in keeping order and enforcing rules. She held a surprise inspection of the juniors' desks and drawers, and pounced upon illicit packets of chocolate; she examined their books, and confiscated any which she considered unsuitable; she put a ban upon slang, and wrote out a new set of dormitory regulations. Her efforts were hardly so much appreciated as they deserved. The girls grumbled at this unanticipated tightening of the reins. "We've always bought sweets and kept them in our desks," declared Joan Butler. "I believe Veronica used to do it herself." "Life wouldn't be worth living without chocolates!" mourned Nora Fawcitt. "And we always used to scramble for the bathroom in the mornings, ever since I've been here," groused Dorothy Newstead. "It's no fun to wait in a queue." The Fifth fared no better than the Fourth, and being older, their indignation was even hotter. "Veronica took away _Adam Bede_, and said it wasn't 'suitable'!" fumed Aveline. "She told me I might read Scott and Dickens instead. And I'd just got to the interesting part! It's too idiotic!" "I can't see why Veronica need act censor to all our reading," agreed Katherine bitterly. "Why should we be allowed Jane Austen and not Charlotte Bronte?" "Little girls mustn't read love stories!" mocked Raymonde. "But they're all love stories--Scott's and Dickens's and Jane Austen's and everyone's! How about Shakespeare? There's heaps of love-making in _Romeo and Juliet_, and we took that with Professor Marshall!" "I don't think Gibbie ever quite approved of it. She thought it indiscreet of the Professor, I'm sure, and likely to put ideas into our heads!" "Does she expect we'll go eloping over the garden wall? Perhaps that's why she keeps such a vigilant look-out with the telescope!" "It's quite bad enough to have Gibbie always on our trail," said Ardiune gloomily, "but when it comes to Veronica turning watch-dog as well, I call it an outrage!"