Here at least she would have peace for an hour, though every one of the sixty minutes was bringing her nearer to her dreaded interview.

At four o'clock, with a horrible sinking feeling in her heart, and a trembling sensation in her knees, she knocked at the door of the head-mistress's study, and entered in response to the "Come in!" which followed.

Miss Bishop looked up from some papers, motioned her to a chair, and went on writing for several minutes.

To Winona it seemed worse than waiting at the dentist's.

The suspense was ghastly.
At last the Principal paused, laid down her pen, and blotted her pages.
"Come here, Winona Woodward," she said quietly.