“What’s the matter?” whispered Clover.  Rose only made another grimace, clawed with her fingers at Miss Barnes’s back, and vanished down the entry which led to Mrs. Florence’s room.  They stood looking after her.

“Oh, dear!” sighed Clover, “I’m so afraid Rose is in a scrape.”

They walked on toward Quaker Row.  In the wash-room was a knot of girls, with their heads close together, whispering.  When they saw Katy and Clover, they became silent, and gazed at them curiously.

“What has Rose Red gone to Mrs. Florence about?” asked Clover, too anxious to notice the strange manner of the girls.  But at that moment she caught sight of something which so amazed her that she forgot her question.  It was nothing less than her own trunk, with “C.  E. C.” at the end, being carried along the entry by two men.  Miss Jane followed close behind, with her arms full of clothes and books.  Katy’s well-know scarlet pin-cushion topped the pile; in Miss Jane’s hand were Clover’s comb and brush.

“Why, what does this mean?” gasped Clover, as she and Katy darted after Miss Jane, who had turned into one of the rooms.  It was No. 1, at the head of the row,—­a room which no one had wanted, on account of its smallness and lack of light.  The window looked out on a brick wall not ten feet away; there was never a ray of sun to make it cheerful; and Mrs. Nipson had converted it into a store-room for empty trunks.  The trunks were taken away now, and the bed was strewn with Katy’s and Clovers possessions.

“Miss Jane, what is the matter?  What are you moving our things for?” exclaimed the girls in great excitement.

Miss Jane laid down her load of dress, and looked them sternly.

“You know the reason as well as I do,” she said icily.

“No, I don’t.  I haven’t the least idea what you mean!” cried Katy.  “Oh, please be careful!” as Miss Jane flung a pair of boots on top of Cousin Helen’s vase, “you’ll break it!  Dear, dear!  Clover, there’s your Cologne bottle tipped over, and all the Cologne spilt!  What does it mean?  Is our room going to be painted, or what?”

“Your room,” responded Miss Jane, “is for the future to be this,—­No. 1.  Miss Benson and Miss James will take No. 6; and, it is to be hoped, will conduct themselves more properly than you have done.”

“Than we have done!” cried Katy, hardly believing her ears.

“Do not repeat my words in that rude way!” said Miss Jane, tartly.  “Yes, than you have done!”

“But what have we done?  There is some dreadful mistake!  Do tell us what you mean, Miss Jane!  We have done nothing wrong, so far as I know!”

“Indeed!” replied Miss Jane, sarcastically.  “Your ideas of right and wrong must be peculiar!  I advise you to say no more on the subject, but be thankful that Mrs. Florence keeps you in the school at all, instead of dismissing you.  Nothing but the fact that your home is at such a distance prevents her from doing so.”