After attending the basketball game her aunt had told her rather sharply that if she were able to attend basketball games, she was certainly able to continue her studies.

Eleanor had agreed to return to school the following Monday, and had started from home at the usual time with no intention whatever of honoring the High School with her presence.

She passed the morning in the various stores, lunched in town and went to a matinee in the afternoon.

In this manner she idled the days away until the holiday vacation came, congratulating herself upon her success in pulling wool over the eyes of her long-suffering aunt.
But a day of reckoning was at hand, for just before the close of vacation Miss Thompson chanced to call at Mrs.Gray's home while Mrs.
Gray was entertaining Miss Nevin, and the truth came out.
When Miss Nevin confronted her niece with the deception Eleanor had practised upon her, a stormy scene had followed, and Eleanor had accused Grace Harlowe of telling tales to Mrs.Gray, and Mrs.Gray of carrying them to her aunt.

This had angered Miss Nevin to the extent that she had immediately ordered Eleanor to her room without telling her from whom she had received her information.
For three days Eleanor had remained in her room, refusing to speak to her aunt, who, at the end of that time, decreed that if she did not at once apologize roundly and return to school her violin and piano would both be taken from her until she should again become reasonable.
In the face of this new punishment, which was the severest penalty that could be imposed upon her, Eleanor remained obdurate.