"Therefore, I bear, to say the least, a doubtful character.
Nevertheless, I have formed with some of the students here a slight
acquaintance, of which, it seems, you disapprove. You have given me no
good reason why I should discontinue that acquaintance, and you
cannot control me except by your wish--a sort of influence not usually
effective with doubtful characters. Suppose I disregard your wish, and
that one or two of your pupils come to you and say: 'Miss Wilson, in our
opinion Smilash is an excellent fellow; we find his conversation most
improving. As it is your principle to allow us to exercise our own
judgment, we intend to cultivate the acquaintance of Smilash.' How will
you act in that case?"

"Send them home to their parents at once."

"I see that your principles are those of the Church of England. You
allow the students the right of private judgment on condition that
they arrive at the same conclusions as you. Excuse my saying that the
principles of the Church of England, however excellent, are not those
your prospectus led me to hope for. Your plan is coercion, stark and
simple."

"I do not admit it," said Miss Wilson, ready to argue, even with
Smilash, in defence of her system. "The girls are quite at liberty to
act as they please, but I reserve my equal liberty to exclude them from
my college if I do not approve of their behavior."

"Just so. In most schools children are perfectly at liberty to learn
their lessons or not, just as they please; but the principal reserves an
equal liberty to whip them if they cannot repeat their tasks."