"I ain't neither your Hannah, nor your Percy, nor one of the dogs,"
replied the rather irate Alice. "There, get up, miss, do. I never see
such a young lady for sleeping--never."

"I won't be bothered," said the occupant of the bed, and now she turned
deliberately on her side and snored more loudly than ever.

"There's no help for it," said Alice: "I have to do it nearly every
morning, so don't you be startled, miss. Poor thing, she would never have
a good conduct mark but for me. Now then, here goes. You needn't be
frightened, miss--she don't mind it the least bit in the world."

Here Alice seized a rough Turkish towel, placed it under the sleepy head
with its shock of red hair, and, dipping a sponge in a basin of icy cold
water, dashed it on the white face.

This remedy proved effectual: two large pale blue eyes opened wide, a
voice said in a tranquil and unmoved tone:

"Oh, thank you, Alice. So I'm back at this horrid, detestable school
again!"

"Get your feet well on the carpet, Miss Drummond, before you falls off
again," said the servant. "Now then, you'd better get dressed as fast as
possible, miss--you have lost five minutes already."

Hester, who had laughed immoderately during this little scene, was
already up and going through the processes of her toilet. Miss Drummond,
seated on the edge of her bed, regarded her with sleepy eyes.

"So you are my new room-mate?" she said. "What's your name?"

"Hester Thornton," replied Hetty with dignity.

"Oh--I'm Susy Drummond--you may call me Susy if you like."

Hester made no response to this gracious invitation.

Miss Drummond sat motionless, gazing down at her toes.

"Had not you better get dressed?" said Hester after a long pause, for she
really feared the young lady would fall asleep where she was sitting.

Miss Drummond started.

"Dressed! So I will, dear creature. Have the sweet goodness to hand me my
clothes."

"Where are they?" asked Hester rather crossly, for she did not care to
act as lady's-maid.

"They are over there, on a chair, in that lovely heap with a shawl flung
over them. There, toss them this way--I'll get into them somehow."

Miss Drummond did manage to get into her garments; but her whole
appearance was so heavy and untidy when she was dressed, that Hester by
the very force of contrast felt obliged to take extra pains with her own
toilet.

"Now, that's a comfort," said Susan, "I'm in my clothes. How bitter it
is! There's one co