Taft and the girls arrived at the school, they found Miss Prudence and Miss Hope sitting in the office doing paperwork. Mandie’s grandmother marched right in and handed the letter to the headmistress. “Here is a letter to you from Amanda’s mother,” she said, clipping her words short. Miss Prudence reluctantly took the letter and turned it over. “Thank you,” she replied hesitantly. “We’ll wait until you read it,” Mrs. Taft responded. Taking a chair nearby, she motioned for the girls to sit down, too. Miss Prudence looked at her silently, then ripped open the envelope. Her disciplined face showed no emotion as she read the single sheet of paper, then dropped it on the desk in front of her. She looked up. “My answer is the same,” she announced. “If Amanda takes leave to go to Washington, she will fail the grade. Even though your daughter was my student, Mrs. Taft, and I know she is an agreeable person, I will not let her plea change my decision.”
