ks; and hailed with
delight the occasions when the school filed out for a walk on the
moors, instead of the usual routine of fielding, batting, or bowling,
all of which she equally detested.

During the latter part of the summer term, when the weather was
sufficiently warm, swimming was included among the outdoor sports.
There was a large bath behind the gymnasium, and here every girl was
obliged to learn her strokes, and to be reported as "proficient",
before she was allowed to venture on a dip in the ocean. Those who
reached the required stage of independence were taken in classes of
about twelve to practise under the critical superintendence of Miss
Young. The bathing-place was a sheltered cove among the cliffs, not far
from the College, and reached by a footpath and a flight of steps cut
in the rock. On the strip of shore stood a big wooden hut, partitioned
off into small dressing-rooms; and a causeway of flat stones had been
made down to the water, to avoid the sharp flints of the shingly beach.

Janie, though not an expert swimmer, had passed her novitiate, and
thoroughly enjoyed a leisurely round of the bay, with as much floating
included as Miss Young would allow. To Honor the sea was as a second
element. She had been accustomed to it from her babyhood, and was as
fearless as any of her brothers. She soon gave proof of her ability in
the bath, and was straightway placed among those Chaddites who were
privileged to visit the sea.

It was a glorious afternoon in the middle of June when she started for
her first trial of the waves of the Channel.

"It can't be anything like so rough as the Atlantic," she declared.
"I've swum out sometimes when there was a swell on, and it was quite
difficult to get back."

"Of course, we're not allowed to go when it's rough," said Janie.
"To-day I expect it will be as smooth as a millpond. I'm so glad you're
not a beginner, and only learning to struggle round the bath!"

"So am I. To judge from Madge Summers's achievements yesterday, it
doesn't look like a pleasant performance. She appeared to be trying to
drown herself."

"Madge is horribly clumsy! I don't believe she'll ever manage to keep
afloat properly. She always flounders unless she has one foot at the
bottom. Pauline Reynolds wouldn't venture into the water at all at
first; Miss Young had to push her in. I shall never forget how she
shrieked; and she was so frightened, she actually swam three strokes!"

"Poor old