midnight
Miss Ravenscroft paused and looked round her . `` I allude , '' she said , `` to the insurrection in our midst -- a sort of civil war in our camp . There are , I am given to understand , in the midst of this hitherto well conducted and admirable school , a number of girls who have banded themselves together in disregard of its laws , and who have made for themselves laws contrary to the peace-abiding principles of this great school and noble institution : who meet at unseemly hours , who preach rebellion each to the other , who dare to publicly break the laws of the school , and who defy the express wishes of myself as head-mistress and the governors of the school by insisting on continuing their wicked meetings . And last night a certain number of these girls actually took it upon themselves to go to London -- to do what , I ca n't say -- and to return at midnight , alone and unchaperoned . Such conduct is so unworthy , so undignified , and so absolutely sinful that there is only one course to pursue . The girls who are rebellious in the school must be exposed ; their conduct must be investigated , and a very heavy punishment awarded to them . '' Here Miss Ravenscroft looked round her .