That was quite enough for the girls. They flew over to the study hall corridor and crowded around the board. There at the end of the notice of the Latin examination, written in a big round hand, were the words:
"I came, I saw, I looked, I ran, I flew, I flunked!"
"Oh, that's too lovely for words!" gloated Lois. "Angela darling, I'll love you forever."
"Come on back to my room," urged Polly. "We don't want the Spartan to see us here; she'll know who did it."
"You're right; we had better fly. But O Jemima, wouldn't I love to watch her face when she first sees it!" chuckled Betty.
Once back in Polly's room the girls lapsed into silence and all opened Latin books, which doesn't mean, however, that they studied. Betty was wondering what particular chapter Miss Hale would choose for translation; Angela's thoughts were busy with a possible rhyme about the hard-heartedness of the Spartan, and Lois and Polly were thinking of the promised walk with Louise, which would have to be given up.
It was Connie who interrupted their thoughts by banging on the door.
"Yes; we are all in the depths of despair, but you may come in if you want to," Polly called dolefully.
"Sweet fight going on in Senior Alley," Connie began after she had entered the room. "I've been down there ever since I came out of the exam, and I heard all about it."
"Well, for goodness' sake, tell us what's the matter," demanded Angela.
"Don't be impatient, I'm going to. Listen: Agnes Green," Connie commenced (Agnes was one of the Seniors and the kind of girl who always had a grudge against some one), "is furious at Louise; you know she always has disliked her because Lu didn't put her on the team. Well, it seems that the Senior class is divided as to whether or not they should wear white shoes on Commencement. Louise wants to and Agnes doesn't."
"Of course she doesn't," Polly interrupted angrily. "That girl would disagree with her own shadow! But go on."
"That's about all I know," resumed Connie. "Agnes railed at Louise; said she had always influenced the class the wrong way; was unfair, and I don't know what. When I left, Louise was in tears."
Connie stopped for breath and then began again.
"And here's another little bit of news, which will make you love Agnes some more: it seems that her brother and a friend of his from college are coming up here to see her tomorrow. You know the Latin examinations were fixed for then, so what does dear Agnes do but ask the Spartan to change the time so that she can chaperon her and brother and brother's friend on a nice long drive. Naturally the Spartan jumped at the idea and arranged to give all her exams this very afternoon. Now just what do you think of that?" she finished, flourishing her arms in the air.