Called to the Headmistress

Faith's letter writing campaign continued. One day as the students entered the English classroom, their teacher, a severe emaciated man named Mr. Tufts, called Faith over to his desk.

"Miss Porter would like to see you in her office," he said in a low voice.

Faith turned as if to take her seat and Mr. Tufts stood and cleared his phlegmy throat, "Now, Miss Faraday. We do not keep Miss Porter waiting. Take your books with you please."

The other girls looked curiously at one another, wondering what Faith had done and why she would need to take her books with her. That sounded ominous but no one dared say anything aloud. Mr. Tufts was a harsh disciplinarian and no one wanted a demerit.

Faith shot a helpless look to Lulu. She and Lulu had become fast friends often trading hilarious stories of their oddball roommates. Lulu shrugged back at Faith and quickly turned back to face the front of the classroom and Mr. Tufts.

"Now, young ladies, we were studying the symbolism in Tennyson's Lady of Shallot," Mr. Tufts began. "Who has actually read the poem and can tell me her interpretation of the tower?