"Sorry to be inhospitable, Blue Bonnet, but I can't let you in. You see you aren't expected until to-night. At twelve, remember; and, for goodness' sake, take a look down the hall before you venture out. We don't want Fraulein to spoil things. I reckon Sue had better fix up your pillow before you come."
"Fix up my pillow!" Blue Bonnet said, a bit mystified.
"Yes. She'll show you. She's an artist at it."
Blue Bonnet's amazement deepened and Annabel explained.
"She'll get some of Wee Watts' hair. She's got a Jane, and a switch, too--it's about the color of yours--and she'll pin it on your pillow--fix it up so that if Fraulein suspects anything and takes a peek in your room she'll swear you're sleeping like a baby."
"Oh, we haven't been here three years for nothing, let me tell you," Annabel confessed. "You need all your wits."
"How am I going to wake up?" Blue Bonnet asked. "I know I never can without an alarm of some kind. I'm an awfully good sleeper."
"That's easy. Tie a string round your wrist and put the string outside the transom--let it hang down the wall. Nobody will see it after the lights are out. Some of us will pull it and waken you about a quarter to twelve. Don't wake Joy. She might go to Miss North, or do something."
"No, she wouldn't. Joy isn't so bad as we all thought, Annabel. I want to tell you about her sometime. We must try to be nicer to her if she stays here."
"Oh, she'll stay, never fear. They aren't expelling any graduates--especially a student like Joy Cross. She's made a wonderful record. Miss North's got to admit that, whatever else Joy's done. Good-by. See you later. I'm in an awful hurry. You'll excuse me, won't you?"
About five minutes before time for the lights to be put out, there was a gentle knock at Blue Bonnet's door. Sue Hemphill put her head in and glanced round.
"Where's Joy?" she asked, drawing something in after her.
"Good! Here, turn down your bed quick, Blue Bonnet."
Blue Bonnet complied, and Sue swiftly deposited a pillow underneath the sheet, leaving only a brown head gracefully exposed to view.
Blue Bonnet clapped her hand over her mouth to prevent a shriek. The thing so resembled a human head that it convulsed her for a moment.
"Sue! How ever did you do it? Why, from the back it looks just like me. I always braid my hair that way at night. It's wonderful!"