I don't think that they had actually intended to reveal their carefully planned machinations to Natty in our seventh period Geometry class. Perhaps it was Natty herself who provoked that, by her catty little remark how it was such a pity that Dorothy Barnett and her friends could not buy themselves good grades, with all that wealth that their parents had accumulated.

"We all know that St. Albert's is an exclusive school. However, this is not merely about financial wealth. It is also about lineage and impeccable manners, Fogg," Dorothy Barnett retorted.

"It is a little known fact that in the original statutes of our school, it is explicitly stated that a student's board and tuition, as well as all other fees, have to be paid by the student's parents rather than by some third party," her friend Eleanor Bradford added.

"Speaking of which, you may all find it interesting to learn that on the next meeting of the School Council a group of concerned parents intends to bring forward a motion to strictly adhere to St. Albert's original statutes of 1872, without any exception," Dorothy announced.

Normally, our teacher Ms Gablins would have put an end to this discussion immediately after Barnett's first remark, or, much more likely, in the middle of it. Oddly, she allowed this exchange to continue. I noticed that she was listening intently, with a smile on her face, presumably because she knew where this was going.

I had an idea where this was going, myself, and I did not like it at all.

"Would there be any consequences for students currently at our school whose board and tuition are paid by a third party?" Carol Mellon asked.

"Why, if that motion is passed at the Council meeting, those students would be required to leave St. Albert's," Barbara Lane replied. She turned towards Natty. "I hope you will not take this personally, Fogg. It is just a matter of principle. After all, the rules are the rules."

To me it sounded like the four 'rich girls' in our class had rehearsed all this.

Natty had been listening silently, her face a blank. But I knew that she had to be be fuming inside.

"My father will never stand for this," Nancy observed, anger in her voice. "He is on the School Council too, and he will make sure that this motion will not pass."

"Like everybody else, your father has just one vote on the Council, Kerrington," Dorothy Barnett replied. "Trust me, that motion is going to pass. Incidentally, the Galads also have one vote on the School Council. They have discussed the issue extensively, and I know for a fact that they will vote in favor of passing that motion." She turned towards Mallory Carmichael with a smile. "Isn't that right, Mallory?"

Mallory looked distinctly uncomfortable. Apparently, she had known about this, too. She opened her mouth to say something, but a furious Natty cut her off.

"Are you happy with your new friends, Carmichael?" she jeered. "Congratulations. You have taken selling out to an entirely new level here."

Mallory was turning red with anger. "As usual, you don't know what you are talking about, Nat. Not that I, or anybody here, have asked you for your opinion."

"Girls, calm down. As much as everybody here enjoys an interesting discussion about school politics, this particular one is getting a bit out of hand." Despite her words, from the expression on our teachers face it was clear that she was enjoying this immensely. "I think it is time to return to the topic of today's lesson."

Thus, the lesson continued. Neither Natty nor Mallory were paying much attention to it, though. The two girls were staring daggers at each other.

I was more than a bit worried about what I had learned today. If Natty had to leave St. Albert's, I might not be able to get transferred to her new school.

After Geometry class, I paid a visit to Allie and Lena.

"Could they really do that?" I asked them. "Could they force Natalie to transfer to another school?"

"In principle, they could." Lena looked worried. "Of course, it is the Board of Trustees that has the final decision. But they usually follow the decisions of the School Council."

"And Headmistress Stuart can not overrule that decision, either?" I asked.

"No, she can't," Allie told me. "What it comes down to is that it is the School Council that will determine the outcome."

This was not what I had hoped to hear. Disappointed, I walked back to our dorm room.

I found the door to the room ajar, with students crowding the corridor outside, trying to get a closer look at what was going on inside.

Inside, Natty and Mallory were facing off. The two girls were yelling at each other.

"You traitorous bitch!" Natty shouted.

Mallory slapped Natty's face. Natty slapped her in return. With an angry shriek, Mallory hurled herself at Natty. The two girls landed on Natty's bed, with Mallory on top, pinning Natty down, hitting her.

Just then, two prefects burst into the room. One of them was Marcia Evans. The other one I did not know.

"What's going on here? Break it up, girls. Immediately."

Together, they managed to pull Mallory off Natty.

Oddly, Mallory was the one who was crying.

She was sobbing. Great, heartbroken sobs.

And she was not faking it, either. She was genuinely upset. In fact, more than just upset. She looked like somebody whose world had come to an end.

"A physical fight, huh? How come that I am not surprised to find you involved in this, Fogg?" Evans snarled.

Natty did not reply. She appeared to have retreated into some kind of brooding inner darkness.

Mallory had stopped crying.

"It was me who started this," she said. "I hit her first."

Evans frowned. "Is that so?"

She jotted down something in a small notebook.

"Carmichael, is it?"

Mallory nodded.

"This is not your own room, is it? Get out, then. Headmistress Stuart and your tutor will be informed about this incident."

Together with Mallory, the two prefects left the room.

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