"YES, MISS LORRAINE," GERALD REPLIED. "I WILL REMEMBER THAT."

"SEE THAT YOU DO, SHE SAID. "NOW GO ON TO MISS LOUISE'S OFFICE, AND BE QUICK ABOUT GETTING THERE."

GERALD SIGHED AND MINCED OUT OF THE ROOM, TRAILED BY LITTLE GIGGLES. HE FELT AS IF ALL EYES WERE UPON HIM, BUT HE KNEW THEY WERE MOSTLY SYMPATHETIC.

UP ON THE SECOND FLOOR, GERALD STOOD BEFORE THE OAKEN PANELING OF MISS LOUISE'S DOOR, GETTING UP THE COURAGE TO KNOCK. BUT BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE WOOD WITH HIS KNUCKLES, THE DOOR OPENED AND MISS LOUISE STOOD BEFORE HIM, SMILING AT HIS PUZZLEMENT.

"COME IN, GERALDINE DEAR, 10 SHE SAID, STEPPING TO ONE SIDE, "AND CLOSE THE DOOR BEHIND YOU."

WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT MISS LOUISE WAS PSYCHIC OR GIFTED WITH X-RAY VISION, THE BOY-GIRL DID AS HE WAS TOLD AND SOON STOOD IN FRONT OF HER DESK. SHE SEATED HERSELF, SHUFFLED THROUGH A FEW PAPERS, THEN SHOVED THEM ASIDE.

MISS LOUISE WAS A LOVELY WOMAN IN SPITE OF HER AGE, WHICH GERALD GUESSED WAS 28

MAYBE AS MUCH AS THIRTY, HER TAILORING WAS A BIT SEVERE, PERHAPS BECAUSE SHE FELT THE NEED TO DISGUISE A SENSATIONAL FIGURE BEHIND TWEED SUITS AND PLAIN BLOUSES, AND SHE AFFECTED A PAIR OF HORN-RIMMED GLASSES WHICH DID LITTLE TO IMPROVE HER EYESIGHT, WHICH WAS QUITE KEEN, OR IMPAIR HER APPEARANCE, WHICH WAS ALSO KEEN, GERALD THOUGHT.

MISS LOUISE FIXED HIM WITH A WARM AND FRIENDLY SMILE WHICH DID MUCH TO EASE GERALD'S DISCOMFORT IN THE PRESENCE OF AUTHORITY.

"I HAVE CALLED YOU IN TO DISCUSS WHAT WENT ON THE NIGHT OF OUR FORMAL DANCE, SHE SAID. "LAST SATURDAY NIGHT, TO BE AS ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE."

"YES, MA'AM 000 I MEAN, YES, MISS LOUISE, " GERALD REPLIED, HIS KNEES WEAK. HERE IT COMES! HE THOUGHT MOROSELY.

" UNDERSTAND THAT A CERTAIN YOUNG MAN, A GUEST OF THIS SEMINARY, WAS SUBJEC-

TED TO GROSS EMBARRASSMENT IN THE GARDEN DURING THAT AFFAIR, "MISS LOUISE DECLARED. "SO I HAVE HEARD, MISS LOUISE," GERALD REPLIED.

"MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN HE TRIED TO GET FRESH WITH ONE OF OUR GIRL

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