A Pair of Schoolgirls: A Story of School Days

thy

on about her adventure; then she decided it would be rather humiliating to have to explain that she had forgotten her contract, that she had had no money in her pocket, and that the official had not seemed disposed to trust her for her fare. Alison, whose path in life was always smooth, would perhaps sca

olfellow to her books, and made no advances. The two walked from the station to the College almost in silence, each occupied with her own thoughts; and though they met frequently during the day, and travelled back together as usual, they only talked about ordinary Avondale topics. Each felt as warm towards the other as before, but both realized

Barnett, I'm sure I should have been asked. Alison hasn't even mentioned the tableaux again. I

own easy flippancy. Money, position, and pretty clothes were what Hope worshipped, and because Dorothy possessed none of these she looked down upon her, and lost no opportunity of slighting her. In her capacity of Warden, Hope naturally had much influence in the class, and led popular opinion. It was very unfortunate that she had been elected, for she was quite the wrong girl to fill a post which involved a tolerable a

girls. Hope encouraged the idea that a mistress was the natural enemy of her pupils, and that they were justified in breaking rules if they could do so safely. She did not even draw the line

ated on her desk, exhibiting a new ring to a group of admiring frie

clear off. I want

gig

n. I mean to stay where I am for the

're on m

en has the right to sit upo

sniggered

arden if you can't? The pos

to clear off my desk?" asked

, Dorothy-er-I suppose

e Russell. "I'm disgusted wi

ng spots in her cheeks, Dorothy opened her desk. She was too angry for speech. Grace's compassi

ou know it? It's a new game, and it's lovely. I scarcely looked at my lessons. However, I begged a concert ticket from Father, and br

not fair!" o

ing to things. Likes to show off her new dresses. I suppose I shall have to get her an invitation to the Mayor's recept

ood many of the Form will be there. Helen Walker, a

y?" enquired Hope, wit

es anywhere!" lau

esk and took no notice; but her

whispered Ruth Harmon to No?lle

ring one's work if Hope gets all the praise for n

she loves presents. I wonder what she'd say if she cou

he'd find

s someone tells,

pite against her. I don't mind if her dresses are shabby, and if she's the only girl in

game'-she never gives way an inch, whatever Hope says

res up s

her. I like a girl wh

in the Form? Most of the girls are like sheep

I've an

ah

acting. She ought to take a prin

rred the gym. and tied to the cla

was angry because she answered back, and never took into account that she had

thy was cheeky, but I think she's got over it a

's sorry, only she doesn't like to eat her own words. My plan is that we get up a deputation, go to

believe we shall succee

and get up as big a deputation as we ca

mselves in the gymnasium. On this particular day it poured. Dorothy looked hopelessly out of the window to see the gravelled stretch, where the girls often practised hockey, turned into a swamp, and a river racing under the swings. With a groan she resigned herself to the inevitable. The society of her five fellow-

and his double chin, and his funny little peaked beard. Do you like it? Well, I'll

ie," sai

e fuzz of hair. She's smirking no end! 'Don't I look nice?' she's saying," and Hope drew a balloon issuing from the mouth of the portrait, with the

to the extreme back of the room, and sat in a corne

ld see what costumes she comes out in for evening wear.

ou make t

r desk, you wouldn't find it full of classical aut

it locked,

Hallo! She's actually forgotten to lock it to-d

a warden!" came a voice fro

ned roun

've grown a prig all of a sudden? Wh

id Blanche; "we'r

rst thing I find is a novel. What a heap of papers! I believe she must keep

ame crowding round, all sense o

preme joke!" t

ed the purpose of lighting the passage. From her place Dorothy that moment caught a vision-no less a person than Miss Pitman herself

tman could see you!" she remonstrated. "Why don't

othy Greenfield, and m

ered Dorothy. "I tried to save yo

t all a flattering one, especially with the inscription issuing from her mouth, but quite unmistakably meant to represent her, for her name was written above. At her o

ng at my desk?" s

her hand, staring speechlessly; Blanche tried to shuffle away, Valentine loo

ture on the blackboard?

nivelled Irene, trying to thrust the brunt

scathing glance, under

awing, no doubt," remarked the mistress sarcastically

ased the offending portrait. Miss Pitman walked to her des

I think of you," she said. "Miss T

ertha Warren to Addie Parker, when the outraged mistress had

ood thing, too! It was time Miss Pitman's eyes

she does. I'm waiti

and Valentine received a summons to the study, and after a ten m

most tremendous storm-a regular blizzard-in the study. Miss Tempest has

e of the girls who had not heard

squalls began. They had to report themselves in the study, and it turned out that there was something else against Hope and Blanche. I don't know who gave them away, but somebo

et Parker. "It was Professor Schenk. He saw them

the Lower School, if she'd no more idea of honour than that. She's taken away the Wardenship from

as she

at that moment joined the group. "It'

Grace will make

id about Grace. She never l

l be cres

on good to find she's not the mo

d for Dorothy? She owned up when Hope didn't, so Miss Tempest ought to rem

re Mavie and Doris? I'm

r it. Perhaps, as No?lle suspected, she thought she had given too severe a punishment, and was ready to remit it. In the end, she con

ned triumphantly from their mission. "Dorothy's free, and Hope and Bla

l be out of

rse the

to take B

for Do

She dese

t's take her her

had learnt a lesson, for in future she accepted no presents at all from her pupils, not even flowers

s another," said Ruth. "It isn't just, and one has

st, and she had a strong sense of duty. She kept the rules scrupulously herself, and discouraged all the shirkings that had come in under H

er her deposition, till one day she

. "You promised on your honour you wouldn't tell Miss Temp

equal heat. "I kept my promise abso

arrel?" said M

ding-I wish we'd never gone!-and she promised she wouldn't

hy own up about that business, and then expected her to keep quiet about your share of it? It's you who are the sneak. Dorothy tell, indeed!

anion who is unpopular one week may be a heroine the next. Margaret Parker was so indignant at Hope's conduct that she p

off scot-free," said Ruth Harmon, "especially when she was bei

ere was still much to be done to perfect the performance. Dorothy threw herself with enthusiasm i

l. I wish Miss Tempest coul

nt a message to say she'd like to com

!" exclaime

preparations in the way of scenery, but the girls did their best in respect of costumes. Alison coaxed two silk dresses and several other properties from her mother, not to speak of the gorgeous robes in the chest which she brought, though it was decided after all not to have tableaux. Poor Alison, still feeling sore

to our Vanity Fair. That little mu

five mistresses, but several members of the Sixth Fo

red Ruth, greatly excited, for Mary was the president of th

ond nervousness. She felt as i

With the first sentences, however, her courage returned, and she "played up" splendidly. H

empest, when the act was over. "I ha

slipping behind the scenes and drawing that heroine aside. Do

're looking radi

going to propose me as a membe