elf-restraint which might be counted upon in the higher forms. It was a
phase of character which she knew would soon pass, but it required
judicious treatment, and she felt that a mistress needed to be both kind
and firm to exercise the right influence at such a crisis in the young
lives under her charge. Miss Harper, who was popular with her class,
could always tame the most rebellious spirits, and maintain perfect
order; but with Miss Rowe it was a totally different affair. She was not
generally liked, and, taking advantage of her youth and lack of
experience, many of the girls were as naughty as they dared, and defied
her authority on every occasion. Amongst the ring-leaders in what may be
called "the opposition", I regret to say Enid Walker held a foremost
place. She was a very high-spirited, headstrong girl, who resented any
restraint; she either took a violent fancy to people, or disliked them
equally heartily: anyone who could gain her affection could lead her
most easily, otherwise she was apt to prove so wayward as to cause a
teacher to despair. Unfortunately Miss Rowe had not discovered the right
way to manage Enid; for some time matters had been rather strained, and
by the summer term it was a case of undeclared war between pupil and
teacher.

"It doesn't matter what I say or do, Miss Rowe's always down on me!"
declared Enid.

"Well, you really go rather too far sometimes," said Avis. "Miss Rowe
knew perfectly well this morning that you dropped your atlas on purpose,
and that it was you who tied Cissie's hair ribbon to her desk."

"Miss Rowe can be quite nice sometimes," said Patty. "When we were on
the common yesterday, she found two new orchises, and gave them to me to
press."

"Oh, you always manage to say something for everybody!" said Enid.
"You're too good-natured, Patty. I can't bear Miss Rowe."

"But why?"

"'I do not love thee, Doctor Fell,
The reason why I cannot tell;
But this I know, and know full well,
I do not love thee, Doctor Fell,'"

quoted Enid. "That's how I feel, exactly."

"Perhaps she feels the same about you," suggested Winnie.

"Perhaps she does, but I don't care in the least. I don't like her
voice, nor the cold way she looks at me and says, 'Now, Enid!' She's
only an assistant teacher, and I'm not going to obey her as if she were
Miss Lincoln or Miss Harper. She needn't expect it."

Certainly poor Miss Rowe found Enid a very trying pupil. Her attention
w