was rescued by the driver; the door of
the second wagonette burst suddenly open, and nearly precipitated Irene
Spencer into the road; while the whole cavalcade was brought to a
standstill at a narrow turning by finding a broken-down motor-car
blocking up the way.

Appleford proved to be a delightfully quaint old country town, with
twisting streets and black-and-white houses.

"I'm afraid Mademoiselle will be very disappointed with the fashions.
She certainly won't find Paris modes here," laughed Marjorie Butler,
looking at the one row of small shop windows that appeared to satisfy
the wants of the population.

"I'm glad there's a confectioner's, anyhow," said Effie Hargreaves, who
was burning to spend her pocket-money on chocolates.

"And a place for picture postcards," added Nora Proctor; "I can see a
whole tray full of them standing outside that door."

The arrival of four wagonettes containing so many schoolgirls evidently
caused quite an excitement in the usually quiet street. Heads were
popped out of windows, shopkeepers came to their doors, and people began
to collect at corners and stare.

"Almost as if we were a wild-beast show!" said Cicely.

"I believe they hope we're going to march in procession round the market
square and sing, or play as a band," declared Nora Proctor.

"Come along, girls! I am afraid we are attracting too much attention,"
said Miss Russell. "Let us set off for the Dripping Well as fast as we
can. You must make any purchases you want when we return; I cannot let
you wait now."

Effie Hargreaves had already dived into the toffee shop, and issued with
several paper packages in her hand; so she went on her way rejoicing
that she had seized the opportunity while there was yet time.
Fortunately for the others, she was of a generous disposition, and ready
to share her sweets.

"We'll pay you back when we get some of our own," said Marjorie Butler,
blissfully sucking a caramel.

The Dripping Well was situated in a wood, about a mile from the town,
and was, as the guide-book described it, "a most curious natural
phenomenon". The water trickled slowly over a large rock, and was so
charged with lime that it left a thin deposit over everything it
touched. Articles hung up there, after a short time bore the appearance
of having been turned to stone. All kinds of objects were suspended from
the rock, in the process of being encrusted by the lime--top hats,
boots, stockings, gloves, loaves