What they were doing might be considered exceedingly out of place by a few straightlaced persons, but boys and girls will have their fun, even if it must sometimes be at the expense of other people.
Certainly Miss Leece was the most unpopular teacher ever employed in the High School as far back as memory could reach.

She was cruel, strict and sharp-tongued.

Often her violent, unrestrained temper got the better of her in the class room; then she gave an exhibition that was not good for young girls to see.

Anne, especially, was the victim of her rages--poor little Anne who never missed a lesson and studied twice as hard as the other girls.

Miss Leece had but one weakness, apparently, and that was Miriam Nesbit.
Twice had the faculty convened in secret session to consider Miss Leece's case, but it had been decided to keep her through the year at least, since she was engaged by contract and was moreover an excellent instructor in mathematics.
So, it was no wonder that even this early in the school year, she was the object of dislike to the High School girls.