thing about it," said Muriel. "I can't help people
looking over my shoulder."

"Not when you ask them to!"

"I don't know what you mean."

"Copying is called sneaking in boys' schools," said Kitty Harrison.

"And so are other things," said Enid. "Look, girls! what do you think of
this? I saw Muriel pass it to Patty during the exam."

She drew the piece of paper out of her pocket and handed it round for
everybody to see. It was written in Muriel's rather peculiar
handwriting, so there was no possibility of a mistake. There it was in
black and white: "How do you state Question 5? Ought the answer to be in
bales of silk or days?"

It was Muriel's turn now to flush red; she really had not a word to say
for herself, and turned hastily away. Her three friends looked extremely
blank, and Maud Greening murmured something about a mistake.

"Well," exclaimed Cissie Gardiner, "who talked about cheating, I should
like to know?"

"And said it was called sneaking?" said Maggie Woodhall.

"I think some people can be very deceitful," said Winnie Robinson.

"She oughtn't to have been going to show Muriel how to work sums in the
middle of the exam., though," said May Firth.

"She doesn't understand exams.; she never had them at her other
school," explained Enid, "so she didn't really know she oughtn't. Did
you, Patty?"

"Indeed I didn't," declared Patty. "I won't do such a thing another
time."

"Well, there's a vast difference, at any rate, between wanting to help
people and trying to copy their sums," said Winnie.

"I hope you all thoroughly understand the matter now," said Enid.

"If I were Patty I should want that note to be shown to Miss Rowe,"
suggested Cissie Gardiner.

"It's exactly what I'm going to do with it. Give it me back at once!"
cried Enid. "Muriel thoroughly deserves to get into trouble."

"No, Enid, please don't; I beg you won't!" pleaded Patty.

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want you to."

"But why? Miss Rowe ought to hear about it."

"Oh, it really doesn't matter! Now that all of you know I didn't mean to
cheat, I don't care. I hate tell-tales."

"I should care," declared Winnie.

"It's no use getting Muriel into trouble," said Patty.

"It would serve Muriel right," said Enid, indignantly. "Patty, you're a
great deal too good-natured."

"No, I'm not. Please let me have the note, Enid."

"I don't think I will."

"But it's mine. It was written to me, remember."

Enid relinquished the