world in general. There
was a tiresome rule at The Hollies that before we left our rooms we
must take each sheet and blanket separately off our beds, fold them,
and place them in a neat pile upon a chair.

"It's a stupid custom," said Cathy, grumbling for the hundredth time as
she struggled to get the four corners of her coverlet even. "I can't
imagine why we shouldn't turn the clothes over the end of the bed as we
do at home. They would air just as well, or better. There's the bell
ringing now, and I haven't my collar on! Be quick, Phil, let me help you
to tie your hair. We must simply fly or we shall both be late."

I had absolutely no time to arrange my bed. I seized the sheets and
blankets all together, and, rolling them in one untidy bundle, I flung
them upon a chair. I did not even look to see if the room were in order,
but, buttoning my dress as I went, I tore down the passage, just in time
to slip into the dining-room behind Cathy, as Mrs. Marshall opened the
Bible to read prayers. We began lessons immediately after breakfast. The
whole school assembled first in the large class-room for call-over, and
I had taken my place and was arranging my books in order, giving a last
desperate glance at the dates in my history and the troublesome
genealogy of the House of Stuart. We rose and curtsied when Miss Percy
entered, and she bowed and wished us good-morning, in accordance with
the formal etiquette which we practised at The Hollies, but instead of
seating herself as usual, she placed a few things which I could not see
upon the chair, and advanced a little forward with an air of more than
usual gravity upon her face.

"Philippa Seaton," she said impressively, "I feel that I have borne long
enough with your careless and shiftless ways. For some time now I have
made every effort to help you to cure yourself of many bad habits, but
instead of seeing any improvement it appears to me that you allow
yourself to neglect even the ordinary rules of the school. This morning
I visited your bedroom. I found your bed-clothes in utter confusion upon
a chair, your nail-brush evidently unused, your comb left full of hairs
upon the dressing-table, a pair of boots, a slipper, and a shoe-horn
lying upon the floor, while this bag full of cotton reels was flung
under your wash-stand. I am determined that for once I will teach you a
lesson, and I shall pin these articles on to your back, in the hope that
by showing your disgrace to the w