o classes you shall join, so I am going to give you
the choice. The under-fourth would be comparatively easy, the upper-
fourth would mean real hard work. I think you could manage it, if you
worked hard and determined to do your very, very best; but I tell you
frankly it will not be easy. If you would rather have a term in the
lower class and work up gradually, I am willing to let it be so; but you
must realise that it will be less good for yourself. You seem to have a
good memory and to learn quickly; but we don't like to force girls
beyond their strength. You would be the youngest girl in the upper-
fourth."

That decided the matter! Pixie's heart had sunk at the mention of work;
but the ecstatic prospect of being the baby of a class, of writing home
to boast of her position, and of reminding her elders at frequent
intervals of her own precocious cleverness, was too tempting to be
resisted. She pleaded eagerly for the upper-fourth, and came through
the first morning's ordeal with gratifying success. But, alas!
afternoon brought a change of scene, for the girls retired to the
schoolroom for "prep," and the new class-member stared in dismay at the
work before her.

"Is it for next week we are to learn it?" she asked, and when the answer
came, "For to-morrow," she shrieked aloud in dismay. "What! The lot of
it? Grammar, and arithmetic, and geography? All those pages, an'
pages, and pages! I couldn't finish to-day if I sat up all night!
You're joking with me! It isn't really and truly for to-morrow
morning?"

"It is indeed, my dear, worse luck! Miss Bruce gives a terrible amount
of prep, and you are bound to get through somehow. Sometimes it is
worse than this, and you feel simply frantic. You are not allowed to go
on after seven o'clock either, so there is no hope for you if you are
not finished by that time."

"Don't frighten her, Dora," said Kate kindly. She looked through her
spectacles at Pixie's woe-begone face, and smiled encouragement. "It
seems hopeless at first, but you will get accustomed to it in time. I
used to be in despair, but you get into the way of learning quickly, and
picking out the things that are most important. There's no time for
talking, though. Open your grammar and begin at once."

"Hate grammar!" grumbled Pixie crossly. "What's the use of it? I can
talk as well as I want to without bothering about grammar, and I don't
understand it either! Silly gibberish!"

Sh