“I don’t mean to be impertinent, but you are not sorry,” persisted Emily. “You are angry because you think I have disgraced New Moon, but you are a little glad that you have got some one to agree with you that I’m bad.”
“What a grateful child,” said Miss Brownell—flashing her eyes up at the ceiling—where they encountered a surprising sight. Perry Miller’s head—and no more of him—was stuck down out of the “black hole” and on Perry Miller’s upside-down face was a most disrespectful and impish grimace. Face and head disappeared in a flash, leaving Miss Brownell staring foolishly at the ceiling.
“You have been behaving disgracefully in school,” said Aunt Elizabeth, who had not seen this by-play. “I am ashamed of you.”
“It was not as bad as that, Aunt Elizabeth,” said Emily steadily. “You see it was this way—”
“I don’t want to hear anything more about it,” said Aunt Elizabeth.
“But you must,” cried Emily. “It isn’t fair to listen only to her side. I was a little bad—but not so bad as she says—”
“Not another word! I have heard the whole story,” said Aunt Elizabeth grimly.
“You heard a pack of lies,” said Perry, suddenly sticking his head down through the black hole again.
Everybody jumped—even Aunt Elizabeth, who at once became angrier than ever because she had jumped.
“Perry Miller, come down out of that loft instantly!” she commanded.
“Can’t,” said Perry laconically.
“At once, I say!”
“Can’t,” repeated Perry, winking audaciously at Miss Brownell.
“Perry Miller, come down! I will be obeyed. I am mistress here yet.”
