The Madcap of the School

Limb

patch, and a delightful series of experiments had been started down by the moat, where a real, genuine water-garden was in process of construction. Here, duly shod in rubber waders, a few enthusiasts toiled almost daily, planting iris and arrow-head and flowering r

f we bought a punt, we should need a drag and a life-belt as well. You shall go for a row on the river sometimes dur

ipped dark-room, which she lent by special favour to seniors only, on the understanding that they left it as they found it. Miss Gibbs had taken possession of an empty attic, and had made it into a scientific sanctum. So far none of the girls had been allowed to peep inside, and the wildest rumours were afloat as to what the room contained. Batteries and other apparatus had been seen to be carried upstairs, and those scouts who had ventured along the forbidden upper landing reported that through the closed door they could hear weird noises as of turning wheels or bubbling crucibles. It was surmised in the scho

akes Gibbie upstairs and keeps her from buzz

ing fed up with hobbies. I can't show an intelligent interest in all. My poor little brains won't hold them. What with repoussé work and stencilling and chip carving, I hardly ever get half an

on Porter. Even Raymonde, not generally much of a reader, had succumbed to the charms of Freckles and A Girl of

. "I'd chance even the snakes and mosquitoes. Just think of the trees and the flower

oks absolutely top-hole if one could go into it. Hermie said the other day that the Bumble Bee had

ok her head

ds and butterflies will give us a wide berth. Freckles found his specimens when he was alone. You can't go naturaliz

dea! But what about Gi

, and then we'll scoot. Between tea and prep.'s the

inspirations, Ray," burbled Fauve

en curls caressingly, and resolved to wear a blue cotton dress for the next day or two, in case there was a chance of the expedition

ice 42 over here, not to speak of the bits of cherry and lemon and grape and pineapple

fun, you'll see, if we can

hanging about in places where they were not wanted; Mademoiselle made herself far too conspicuous, and Mis

over-done turns into parsimony, liberality into extravagance, self-respect into p

ent unchecked. Evidently the only possible method was to dodge her. Whether her suspicions were aroused it is impos

and toiled with an amazing spur

nished a basket," said

s afternoon I think we shall finis

glad you've 43 taken to such a sensib

't time to wander," said Raymonde, quoting so shamelessly from

on, but her eyes were bent demurely over her bask

over, for I think it's going to rain," observe

scooting in by the back way, had the further satisfaction of seeing the tail

pily employed here for the next hour. Let's bolt fo

monde. "It's the oppo

ey unlatched the little postern door, slipped through, and shut it after them. A moment later they were running at top speed down the road that led to the wood. It was not a very great distanc

overhead, like tender fingers held out to guard the treasures underneath. The ground below, still moist and boggy from the spring rains, was clothed with a carpet of dog violets, growing in such profusion that they seemed to stretch in a vista of palest mauve into the distance. At close intervals among these grew glorious clumps of golden

dow close by; a thrush with his brown throat all a-ruffle trilled in a birch tree overhead, and a blackbird warbled his heart out among the hazel bushes by the fence. The girls went peeping here and there and everywhere in quest of birds' nests, and their dilig

e entire surface of the water was a mass of the gorgeous pale-pink fringed blossoms of the bog bean. The girls had never found it before, and it was indeed rare for it to be growing in a Midland county. They thought

if I have to take off my shoes a

t. It made a rather shaky but perfectly possible bridge, if not for Fauvette, at least for Raymonde. The latter advanced upon it cautiously but courageously. She took three steps, almost slipped, but regained her 46 balance by a miracle, grasped an overhanging bough of the alder, and set a firm foot on the island. From here, by reaching a long arm, she could gather some fine sp

n's egg. Raymonde felt that even at the risk of betraying their secret expedition she must secure some of these. She decided to go halves, to take two and leave two in the nest to console the moorhen wh

cover the moorhen's nest. They hoped the bird would return and sit again when they were out of the way. Each carefully carrying one of

eer squeaking n

it too?" conf

r blankly. There was no doubt that the persistent chi

tched things are hatchin

ng. Already there was a chip in the side of each egg, and a tiny bill began to protrude, the owner of wh

use for the museum

onde, decidedly conscience-stricken, though somewhat u

est, but at that moment the rain, which had been threatening all the after

like murder, but I can't help it. If we

t and hat were plainly advancing in their direction. 48 Undoubtedly somebody had been watching them and was following them. Wild visions of

behind them. Such exciting scenes were all very well in the pages of Freckles, but they would be decidedly out of place in

soaked shoes and stockings, pushing through wet bushes and underneath dripping branches, possessed by the one idea of flight. Down through the hollow where they had gathered the forget-me-nots, and up the bluebell bank they struggled, with never a thought for the flowers; and they were just about to scramble o

" shouted the

round, to find-no desperate villain armed with revolver and bowie-knife, but Miss Gibbs, in a neat, shiny-blac

watched you through my telescope as you went to the wood, and of

aymonde, forbearing to explain that the

us and caught. Miss Gibbs glared at the guilty pair, an

ecreation hours indoors, copying certain classic lines of Paradise Lost. They were debarred from the purchase of chocolates or any other form of swee

the time! She must have watched us scramble over the palings into the wood. It's worse than second sig

og bean. She won't admit it, of course, but I know it's the discovery of the term. It's recorded in the Nature Note-book, and the best piece was pressed for the museum. My

Fauvette, sighing heavily. "I say, I call it rather appropr