Carmella Commands
“I’ll study when I like,” she said, with smothered fury. “Already it is that I know more than you do about many things. I have things to think about besides the river Nile and the population of Liberia.”
She spoke from the day’s geography-science lesson. Miss Silva hesitated. She taught the difficult age, and was skilled in encounters between old world tradition blossoming into new freedom. But this was complete mutiny on the high seas of learning.
She turned to her desk and wrote rapidly for a moment, while the class looked on in dubious wonder. Carmella, almost the youngest, had long since led whenever she would lead. Mostly, she ignored her classmates. Naturally, therefore, if anything dire were to happen to Carmella, the class would be glad to see it happen. There was a wave of disappointment as Miss Silva said:
“Carmella, come here and take this note to Mr. Carroll.”
Downstairs, in the principal’s office, Carmella waited uneasily until he came from his private office.
“Hello, Kid Kate,” he said. “What’s up?”
She handed him the note, and grew slowly red of face as he apparently went through it several times. Finally he looked down at her.
“Why wouldn’t you?” he asked.
“Why wouldn’t I what?”
“You know.”
“There’s lots more exciting places than Africa,” said
[175]
