mfort, the chapel will be warm. I often catch forty
winks in chapel--that is, if I'm lucky enough to get behind one of the
tall girls, where Mrs. Willis won't see me. It does seem to me,"
continued Susan in a meditative tone, "the strangest thing why girls are
not allowed sleep enough."

Hester was pinning a clean collar round her neck when Miss Drummond came
up close, leaned over the dressing-table, and regarded her with languid
curiosity.

"A penny for your thoughts, Miss Prunes and Prism."

"Why do you call me that?" said Hester angrily.

"Because you look like it, sweet. Now, don't be cross, little pet--no one
ever yet was cross with sleepy Susy Drummond. Now, tell me, love, what
had you for breakfast yesterday?"

"I'm sure I forget," said Hester.

"You _forget_?--how extraordinary! You're sure that it was not buttered
scones? We have them sometimes, and I tell you they are enough even to
keep a girl awake. Well, at least you can let me know if the eggs were
very stale, and the coffee very weak, and whether the butter was
second-rate Dorset, or good and fresh. Come now--my breakfast is of
immense importance to me, I assure you."

"I dare say," answered Hester. "You can see for yourself this morning
what is on the table--I can only inform you that it was good enough for
me, and that I don't remember what it was."

"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Susan Drummond, "I'm afraid she has a little temper
of her own--poor little room-mate. I wonder if chocolate-creams would
sweeten that little temper."

"Please don't talk--I'm going to say my prayers," said Hester.

She did kneel down, and made a slight effort to ask God to help her
through the day's work and the day's play. In consequence, she rose from
her knees with a feeling of strength and sweetness which even the
feeblest prayer when uttered in earnest can always give.

The prayer-gong now sounded, and all the girls assembled in the chapel.
Miss Drummond was greeted by many appreciative nods, and more than one
pair of longing eyes gazed in the direction of her pockets, which stuck
out in the most ungainly fashion.

Hester was relieved to find that her room-mate did not share her class in
school, nor sit anywhere near her at table.

When the half-hour's recreation after breakfast arrived, Hester,
determined to be beholden to none of her schoolmates for companionship,
seated herself comfortably in an easy chair with a new book. Presently
she was startled by a little