ck again at
school. With the exception of the one afternoon at Jean Bannerman's, she
had not enjoyed her holidays. A month spent in Muriel's society had been
of little pleasure; indeed, almost every day it had needed constant
effort to keep her temper, and to submit patiently to her cousin's
whims. Muriel, taking advantage of Patty's forbearance, had ordered her
companion about, and treated her in such a haughty and disdainful
manner, that the latter had sometimes felt her position nearly
unbearable. At The Priory at least she could be independent; she could
select her own friends, with whom she might mix on equal terms, and
could secure a standing of her own, apart from Muriel's scornful
patronage. It was delightful to once more meet Enid, Avis, and Winnie,
and to make plans for various cherished schemes to be carried out during
the term; even May, Ella, and Doris proved more friendly, and chatted
quite pleasantly with her in their bedroom about their experiences:
while Cissie Gardiner and Maggie Woodhall greeted her with enthusiasm.

"I've had such a lovely time!" said Cissie. "My brother Cyril was home
from Sandhurst, and he took me to the Military Tournament. I think
there's nothing in the world equal to cavalry. I mean to be an army
sister when I grow up. We saw a staff of nurses do field drill, and
carry a wounded officer to a Red Cross tent. (He wasn't really wounded,
of course, but he pretended to be.) They looked just too sweet in their
uniforms. Grey always suits me, doesn't it? I wish there'd be another
war in South Africa, so that I might volunteer to go out."

"You won't be grown up for four years, dearest, and then perhaps you'll
be tired of soldiers, and like poets again," said Maggie, putting her
arm affectionately round her friend's waist. "Did you have nice holidays
too, Patty?"

"Yes, thank you," replied Patty, as truthfully as she could.

She had decided that it was wiser not to tell any of her friends how
unhappy she had been at Thorncroft. For Uncle Sidney's sake she would be
as loyal as she could to Muriel, so, suppressing all mention of the many
disagreeable episodes of her visit, she merely described the parties
and the afternoon at the pantomime with as much detail as possible,
leaving it to be inferred that she had enjoyed herself. The spring term
was generally regarded at The Priory as a time of particularly close
study and increased work. In the autumn there were lectures, concerts,
or o