Then the principal spoke: "I must ask the undivided attention of every girl in this room, as what I am about to say relates in a measure to all of you.
"There are four classes, representing four divisions of high school work, assembled here this morning.

Each one must be passed through before the desired goal--graduation--is reached.
"The standard of each class from freshmen to seniors, should be honor.

I have been very proud of my girls because I believed that they would be able to live up to that standard.

However it seems that some of them have yet to learn the meaning of the word." Miss Thompson paused.

Nora cast a significant look toward Jessica, who sat directly opposite her, while Julia Crosby fidgeted nervously in her seat, and felt suddenly ill at ease.
"Good-natured rivalry between classes," continued Miss Thompson, "has always been encouraged, but ill-natured trickery is to be deplored.