The Madcap of the School

Be

d to set an example to the younger ones, and to be zealous in keeping order and enforcing rules. She held a surprise inspection of the juniors' desks and drawers, and pounced upon illicit packets of chocolate; she examined their books, and confis

m in our desks," declared Joan Butler. "

living without chocolate

the mornings, ever since I've been here," groused Do

the Fourth, and being older, th

fumed Aveline. "She told me I might read Scott and Dickens inst

r reading," agreed Katherine bitterly. "Why should

't read love storie

's and everyone's! How about Shakespeare? There's heaps of love-mak

. She thought it indiscreet of the Professor, I

garden wall? Perhaps that's why she keeps s

ail," said Ardiune gloomily, "but when it comes to Ver

d not be little premature women, so I vote we live up to her theory. It's Veronica's 93 last term here. She ought to be bubbling and girlish, and carry away happy memories of her light-hearted school-days when she goes out into the wide world to be a wom

us-minded Veronica developing a bubbling

she writes extra essays she keeps them to herself, and doesn't flaunt them before the Form. And there was Cynthia Greene, too! We don't hear a word about Th

did not respond to their efforts; on the contrary, she seemed to resent them. When they attempted to introduce lighter veins of conversation, sh

uminated card deprecating the use of slang, which had lately been

only after a long search that she found them at the bottom of her emptied water-jug. On the next evening it was impossible

ases of insubordination must be promptly dealt with. In order to catch the offenders they laid a trap, Linda and

cended upon the would-be practical jokers were enough to damp the spirits of even such madcaps as Raymonde and Aveline. After all, monitresses are monitresses, and to affront them is rather

r a decent period of immersion they once more rose to the surface. The occasion of their revival wa

ere it started, or what was the fount of information, but everybody said

and are to stay the night, only we're not supposed to get a

t down from the box-room to have its lock and handles polished; and Dorothy Newstead, concealed behind a laurel bush during a game of "Hide-and-seek," had overheard the Principal give instructions to the gardener to or

!" said Raymonde enthusiastically. "Gibbie was talki

rosebuds w

is still

flower that

w will b

t most impre

ut getting married while you'd the

lves it. But you're side-tracking, and I want to get back to my point. I was talking of opportunities, and never in the whole of ou

te's plaintive voice. "You're alway

don't look alarmed! We're not going to eat beans; we'll have something far more appetizing-sardines, and tinned peaches, and biscu

out tho

affair for the whole dormitory.

resses to join," interpo

oor across the passage that leads to their rooms? Well, I'm going to faste

old sport, if there were

't a key. I'm going to fix a screw in the door and another in the doorpost

ouse, and from past experience they judged that she was more likely to devote the evening to her own pleasure than to an over-strict attention to duty. The juniors, when sounded on the subject, responded to a girl. Even Cynthia Greene assented gleefully. Every occupa

. "We shall have to go for the things ourselves. There's nothing else for it. Who'll volu

ceeding for two girls, in the ordinary brown serge uniform and conspicuous 98 hats of the school, to enter a s

assage near the kitchen. We'll turn up our hair, borrow what garments we want, and dash off between prep. an

t. There were so many pitfalls in the path-servants, monitresses, and mistresses must be outwitted, both in going and returning, to make their excursion a success. The juniors, however, played up nobly. At a concerted hour, they managed by cleverly concocted excuses to

view of themselves in a looking-glass, were pleased with

ession, as if you'd got 99 adenoids. Remember, you want to look as common as possible. Drop your h's when you

laugh i

shops. I'll do Adcock's, and you shall have Sey

ing a little in advance, and Morvyth following, as if they had no acquaintance with each other. It was perhaps as well for their mutual composure that they visited separate shops, for Morvyth's provincial accent and Raymonde's cold might have been mirth-provoking to a fellow conspirator, though they passed muster we

of school regulations, and secure provisions for the entertainment. No Tom

or not. They did not announce their intention, and gave no hint of the matter. Little Nancie Page, however, sent to Miss Gibbs's room with a

-the deeper the better. Make them think we're going to bed with our minds fixed on Egyptology, and the wonders of the microscope, and t

ning was a subject of satisfaction t

y's and Miss Gibbs's places empty at supper, but they seemed to feel on their honour to be steadi

but if Raymonde has a quiet fit like that on,

slightly. Mademoiselle heaved a sigh of relief, and went off thankfully to her own bedroom to write letters. She did not consider it necessary to interrupt herself at this occupation. Miss Gibbs had indeed urged the expediency of a surprise

emained quietly in bed until 10.30. By that hour monitresses and servants alike would probably be aslee

crept up the passage to the door which led to the monitresses' rooms. She had inserted her screws earlier in the evening, so with the aid of

d try to come upon the scenes, they'll just find them

Mademoiselle's done it!

e shops had not offered a very wide range of dainties, but there were sardines, and canned peaches, and biscuits, and three Huntley & Palmer's cakes, rather dry, because they

irreproachable Maudie Heywood and Cynthia Greene were occupied with scissors, making plates out of sheets of exercise paper. Beds drawn up alongside the impromptu table served for seats, and the girls crowded together as closely as they could. Raymonde and Morvyth, by virtue of their ex

and you must drink the syrup in the glasses. I dare say it'll mix all right

eased when the sardine tin upset in the

bed!" wailed

he assembly, and you see the lot's fallen on you," said Raymon

rs!" grumbled Cynthia. "I shan't

ur pillow, so shut up!" commanded the mistress of the ceremo

noise, though––" sugg

apped her

d out, and Mademoiselle will never hear. We've got the place to ourselves to-n

dle, baby's gone!

the time of her life

e'll hav

e the rest of the 104 company waltzed between the beds, with intervals of the fox-trot. Maudie Heywood and Cynthia Greene had accepted the inevitable, and joined the multitud

hood!" murmured Raymonde with satisfaction. "The Bumb

tissue-paper covered combs with tingling lips, faster and faster whirled the dancers, the fun was at its zenith, when quit

ncerted. A horrible hush spread over the room, and for a moment everybody stared in frozen ho

ting an eye over the empty tins and crumby remains of the repast. "Move this rubbish away, and push those beds back to their place

n enraged dragon in such close vicinity the girls did not venture to stir, and silence reigned for the rest of the night. At the first coming of the dawn, however, Raymonde rose with infinite precaution,

the most unpleasant interview they ever remembered, from which the more soft-hearted of them emerged sobbing. They spent Saturday afternoon in the schoolroom writing punishment tasks, while the monitresses went bo

couldn't expect anything else. We heard you plainly enough, and we were utterly disgusted. I

e at 106 that moment might have served

ought to learn to trust our schoolfellows! I loathe Veronica," she added