'Or by dropping it from the top of other people's ladders,' observed Miss Finlayson. That was all the reproof she gave her; and then she turned briskly to the writing-table. 'Isn't there something you have written for me?' she asked.
Barbara jumped away from her in dismay. 'I quite forgot!' she said penitently. 'I did begin to write something, and then--and then----' She struggled in vain to remember what had happened, and gave it up with a sigh. 'I don't know what I did, but I know I never wrote any more than this,' she added, and produced the sheet of paper in a shamefaced manner.
Miss Finlayson took it, and glanced at the title that was written crookedly across the top of the page. 'A Comparrisson of the Possition of Women, now and in the eighteenth century,' was what she read. Below that came quantities of smudges and blots, and at the bottom of all was inscribed: 'These are the ink bogies that came and wrote the Princess's compossition for her, and saved her from the awfull anger of the cruel old witch called Finny.'
Miss Finlayson read this over more than once, then she folded up the sheet of paper very carefully, keeping her face averted all the while. Babs was sure she had been very naughty, and she was seized with a panic lest the head-mistress should be too angry this time even to speak to her.
'I--I know it was very naughty of me,' she confessed anxiously; 'I couldn't think of anything to say about it, and the pen made such beautiful bogies, and--and--are you _awfully_ furious?'
Miss Finlayson had to look at her, then; and she made a last effort to keep grave. The next moment the little room was filled with her laughter.
'My dear little girl,' she exclaimed, 'I am afraid I am not a bit furious. The fact is--the ink bogies _have_ saved the Princess!'
'I'm going to be in your class for everything except Latin and mathematics,' shouted Barbara, flying into the juniors' room just before dinner. It seemed to her of the first importance that everybody should know which class she was to be in, and she was distinctly surprised when Jean Murray, whom she had addressed, turned her back on her and began talking loudly to some one else. 'Don't you hear?' persisted Babs, coming round in front of her again. 'I'm going to be in your class for everything except----'