A Patriotic Schoolgirl

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derson had been justified in her satisfaction that the sisters had not been placed in the same hostel. In Marjorie's presence Dona was nothing but an echo or a shadow, with no personality of her own. At St. Ethelberta's, however, she had begun in her quiet way to make a place for herself. She was already quite a favourite among her house-mates. They teased her a little, but in quite a good-tempered fashion, and Dona, accustomed to the continual banter of a large family, took all chaffing with the utmost calm. She was happier at school than she had expected to be. Miss Jones, the hostel mistress, was genial and warm-hearted

e generally full of "howlers". Miss Clark, her form mistress, was apt to wax eloquent over her mistakes, but she took the teacher's sarcasms with the same stolidity as the girls' teasings. It was a saying in the class that n

bled her own. Dona was in No. 2 Dormitory and Ailsa in No. 5, and it was the ambition of both to be placed together in adjoining cubicles. Miss Jones sometimes allowed changes to be made, but, as it happened, nobody in

sider whether No. 5 was not really a more su

nworthy. "You'd have far more room to spread out your

things are all nicely settled. I'm not going to

ded greater opportunities for laughter and jokes without so much danger of being pounced upon. Her fish, however, re

on. Elaine laughed, waxed enthusiastic, and suggested a visit to a bird-fancier's shop down in the town. It was a queer little place, with cages full of canaries in the wi

entered, and ask

here that will just suit you. They're real beauties,

and plump specimens of the mouse tribe. They justified his eulogy, for they allowed Do

t the room," she enquired, "could I

unning home, and then you shut the door on them. They'll do anything for cheese. Give them plenty of sawdust to burrow

rrying her parcel, and with

out of No. 2 I don't know

d Elaine. "I think all parcels that you take in are examined. Y

-night. I shall pop the parcel under a laurel bush as we go up the drive, then befo

ing girl," laughed Elaine, "and that I ought

are tell

ot abide a

harmless ne

to Mona Kenworthy, the very mention of mice

dramatically. "The thought of them makes me absolutely creep. I shouldn't mind them so much if

e she unwrapped it and stowed it away in her wardrobe. When she had undressed that evening, and just before the lights were turned out, she placed the cage under her bed. She waited until Miss Clark had made her usual tour of inspection, and

said Mona, si

. She pretended to

mouse," voluntee

us! I hope it's

the two small intruders made as much noise as tigers. They began to gnaw the skirting board,

y bed I shall shri

room, it's probably in the wains

n across the floor. Oh, I

at last it was with her head buried under the bed-clothes. Very early in the morning Dona got up, tempted her

uffered from toothache, begged leave to exchange quarters with Ailsa Donald, who had a liking for draughts, and was willing to move out o

ided Mona to her particular chum Kathleen Drummond. "I simply can't tell you what I suff

set a trap," sug

e! No, I never could feel happy in No. 5 again. Mi

of her wardrobe. The risk of discovery was great. Fortunately she managed to secure the good offices of a friendly housemaid, who carried away the cage, and promised to present the mice t

to co