r_ to send out the postilions on the
same mounts oftener than twice a week!"

There was a moment's pause, and then a shriek of laughter. Girls threw
themselves back in their seats, and held their sides with their hands;
girls stamped on the floor, and rolled about as though they could not
contain their delight; girls mopped their eyes and gasped, "Oh, dear!
oh, dear!" and grew red up to the roots of their hair. And Rhoda's face
shone out, pale and fixed, in a white fury of anger.

"You are a very rude, ill-bred girl, Thomasina Bolderston! I made an
innocent remark, and you twist it about so as to insult me before all
the house! You will ask my pardon at once if you have any right
feeling."

"I'm the Head Girl, my dear. The Head Girl doesn't ask pardon of a
silly new-comer who can't take a joke!"

"I fail to see where the joke comes in. If you are Head Girl a dozen
times over, it doesn't alter the fact that you don't know how to behave.
You have bullied me and made me miserable ever since I came to this
school, and I won't stand it any longer, and so I give you notice!"

"Much obliged, but it's no use. The rules of this school are that the
pupils must obey the Head Girl in her own department, and there can be
no exception in your favour, unpleasant as you find my yoke."

"When _I_ am a Head Girl I shall try to be worthy of the position. I'll
be kind to new girls, and set them a good example. I'll not jeer at
them and make them so wretched that they wish they never had been born!"

Thomasina leant her head on her hand, and gazed fixedly into the angry
face. She made no reply, but there was no lack of speakers to vindicate
her honour. Sneering voices rose on every side in a clamour of
indignant protest.

"When _she_ is Head Girl indeed! It will be a good time before _that_
happens, I should say."

"Not in our day, let us hope. We are not worthy to be under such a
mistress."

"Oh my goodness, what a pattern she will be; what a shining example!
You can see her wings even now beginning to sprout."

"Nonsense, child! It's not wings, it's only round shoulders. These
growing girls _will_ stoop. You had better be careful, or you will be
set in order next."

Rhoda looked across the room with smarting, tear-filled eyes.

"Don't alarm yourselves; I wouldn't condescend to bandy words. You are
like our leader--not worthy of notice!"

"Look here, Rhoda Chester, say what you like about us, but leave
Th