"Oh, dear me!" groaned Nellie Agnew, when the rehearsal was finished. "And Margit Salgo would have been just the one!"
"And the poor girl certainly would have enjoyed being one of us," Laura said.
"Take it from me," said Bobby gruffly, "she's just the meanest--"
"Gee Gee! I'm good and disgusted with her."
But Bobby, for once in her life, was very circumspect during recitations that week. She felt that Gee Gee was watching for a chance to demerit her, and the girl did not intend to give the teacher occasion for doing so.
"For once I am going to be so good, and have my lessons so perfect, that she cannot find fault."
"But trust Miss Carrington to find fault if she felt like it!" grumbled the girl a day or so later.
"Miss Hargrew, do not stride so. And keep your elbows in. Why! you walk like a grenadier. And don't sprawl in your seat that way. Are you not a lady?"
Ah, but it was hard for saucy Bobby to keep her tongue back of her teeth!
"Have you lost your tongue?" nagged Miss Carrington.
Bobby's eyes flashed a reply. But her lips "ran o'er with honey," as Jess Morse quoted, _sotto voce_.
"No, Miss Carrington. I am merely holding it," said the girl softly.
Miss Carrington flushed. She knew she was unfair; and Bobby's unexpected reply pilloried the teacher before the whole class. There was a bustle in the room and a not-entirely-smothered snicker.
Had there been any way of punishing the girl Miss Carrington would certainly have done it. She was neither just nor merciful, but she was exact. She could see no crevice in Bobby's armor. The incident had to pass, and the girl remained unpunished.
However, it did seem as though Miss Carrington were more watchful each day of the girls who belonged to the Players Club. She was evidently expecting those who had parts to learn to show some falling off in recitation, or the like. Her sharp tongue lashed those who faltered unmercifully. The girls began to show the strain. They became nervous.
"I really feel as though I must scream sometimes!" said Nellie Agnew, almost in tears, one afternoon as the particular chums of Central High left the building for home. "I know my lessons just as well as ever, but Gee Gee has got me so worked up that I expect to fail every time I come up to recite to her."