Katy felt as if all the blood in her body were turned to fire as she heard these words, and met Miss Jane’s eyes.  Her old, hasty temper, which had seemed to die out during years of pain and patience, flashed into sudden life, as a smouldering coal flashes, when you least expect it, into flame.  She drew herself up to her full height, gave Miss Jane a look of scorching indignation, and, with a rapid impulse, darted out of the room and along the hall towards Mrs. Florence’s door.  The girls she met scattered from her path right and left.  She looked so tall and moved so impetuously that she absolutely frightened them.

“Come in,” said Mrs. Florence, in answer to her sharp, quivering knock.  Katy entered.  Rose was not there, and Mrs. Florence and Mrs. Nipson sat together, side by side, in close consultation.

“Mrs. Florence,” said Katy, too much excited to feel in the least afraid, “will you please tell me why our things are being changed to No. 1?”

Mrs. Florence flushed with anger.  She looked Katy all over for a minute before she answered, then she said, in a sever voice, “It is done by my orders, and for good and sufficient reasons.  What those reasons are, you know as well as I.”

“No, I don’t!” replied Katy, as angry as Mrs. Florence.  “I haven’t the least idea what they are, and I insist on knowing!”

“I cannot answer questions put in such an improper manner,” said Mrs. Florence, with a wave of the hand which meant that Katy was to go.  But Katy did not stir.

“I am sorry if my manner was improper,” she said, trying to speak quietly, “but I think I have a right to ask what this means.  If we are accused of doing wrong, it is only fair to tell us what it is.”

Mrs. Florence only waved her hand again; but Mrs. Nipson, who had been twisting uneasily in her chair, said, “Excuse me, Mrs. Florence, but perhaps it would better—­would satisfy Miss Carr better—­if you were to be explicit.”

“It does not seem to me that Miss Carr can be in need of any explanation,” replied Mrs. Florence.  “When a young lady writes underhand notes to young gentlemen, and throws them from her window, and they are discovered, she must naturally expect that persons of correct ideas will be shocked and disgusted.  Your note to Mr. Abernathy Searles, Miss Carr, was found by his mother while mending his pocket, and was handed by her to me.  After this statement you will hardly be surprised that I do not consider it best to permit you to room longer on that side of the house.  I did not suppose I had a girl in my school capable of such conduct.”

For a moment Katy was too much stunned to speak.  She took hold of a chair to steady herself, and her color changed so quickly from red to pale and back again to red, that Mrs. Florence and Mrs. Nipson, who sat watching her, might be pardoned for thinking that she looked guilty.  As soon as she recovered her voice, she stammered out, “But I didn’t!  I never did!  I haven’t written any note!  I wouldn’t for the world!  Oh, Mrs. Florence, please believe me!”