o are to be pampered and considered, and studied, and amused in
school and out. They have to have games in summer, and a mistress has
to give up her spare time to watch the pretty dears to see that they
don't get into trouble; and they must have parties, and concerts, and
silly entertainments in winter, with some poor wretch of a mistress to
do all the work so that they may enjoy the fun. Miss Farnborough is an
exemplary Head so far as her scholars are concerned, but what does she
do for her mistresses? I ask you, does she do anything at all?"

Claire considered, and was silent. Her first term was nearly over, and
she could not truthfully say that the Head had taken any concern for her
as an individual who might be expected to feel some interest in life
beyond the school door. It is true that almost every day brought the
two in contact for the exchange of a few words which, if strictly on
business, were always pleasant and kindly, but except for the one
invitation to tea on the day before work began, they had never met out
of school hours. Claire was a stranger in London, yet the Head had
never inquired as to her leisure hours, never invited her to her house,
or offered, her an introduction to friends, never even engaged the
sympathies of other mistresses on her behalf. Claire had expected a
very different treatment, and had struggled against a sense of injury,
but she would not acknowledge as much in words.

"I suppose Miss Farnborough is even more tired than we are. She has a
tremendous amount of responsibility. And she has a brother and sister
at home. Perhaps they object to an incursion of school in free hours."

"Then she ought to leave them, and live where she can do her duty
without interference. After all mistresses are girls, too, not very
much older than some of the pupils when we begin work; it's inhuman to
take _no_ interest in our welfare. It wouldn't kill a Head to give up a
night a month to ask us to meet possible friends, or to write a few
letters of introduction. You agree with me in your heart, so it's no
use pretending. It's a moral obligation, if it isn't legal, and I say
part of the responsibility is hers if things go wrong. It's inhuman to
leave a young girl alone in lodgings without even troubling to inquire
if she has anywhere to go in her leisure hours. But it's the same tale
all round. Nobody thinks. Nobody cares. I've gone to the same church
for three years, and not a soul