ial would be unaffected by the writer's mood?"

"Surely twelve years in one school--"

"No, it wouldn't! Not necessarily. `Miss Rhodes has been English
Mistress at Saint Cuthbert's for twelve years. Of late has been erratic
in temper. Health uncertain. Examination records less satisfactory.'
Well! If you represented another school, would _you_ engage Miss
Rhodes?"

Claire was silent. For the first time she realised the danger of this
single-handed power. It meant--what might it not mean? It might mean
that the mistress who was unfortunate enough to incur the dislike of her
chief, might _never_ be able to procure another post! She might be
efficient, she might be hard-working; given congenial surroundings she
might develop into a treasure untold, yet just because of a depreciating
phrase in the wording of a testimonial, no chance would be vouchsafed.
No doubt the vast majority of head mistresses were women of judgment,
possessing a keen sense of justice and responsibility, yet the fact
remained that a hasty impulse, a little access of temper in penning
those all-important lines, might mean the end of a career, might mean
poverty, might mean ruin!

Claire shivered, looked across the table at the thin, fretted face and
made a hesitating appeal--

"Cecil dear, I know you are a good teacher. I just love to hear you
talking over your lessons, but you _are_ irritable! One of my girls was
crying the other day. You had given so much homework, and she didn't
understand what was to be done, and said she daren't ask. You had been
`so cross!' I made a guess at what you wanted, and by good chance I was
right; but if I'd been wrong, the poor thing would have been in
disgrace, and honestly it wasn't her fault! She was willing enough."

"Oh, that imbecile Gladys Brown! I know what you mean. I'd explained
it a hundred times. If she'd the brains of a cow she'd have understood.
No wonder I was cross. I should have been a saint if I wasn't, and no
one can be a saint in the summer term. Did--did any one else see her
cry?"

"I think not. No, I managed to comfort her; but if Miss Farnborough had
happened to come in just at that moment--"

Cecil shrugged and turned the subject, but she took the hint, to the
benefit of her pupils during the next few weeks.

July came in, and with it a spell of unbearable heat. In country places
and by the seashore there was space and air, and clean fragrant
surroundings; but ove