filled by a new teacher who was fond of
natural history, and who encouraged us to find specimens of stones,
leaves, or flowers, explaining them with so much enthusiasm that the
stupidest girl could not fail to be interested. The new scheme answered
well; the extra time given to outdoor recreation was not wasted, for we
went back to our books with fresh zeal; and I think we really got
through as much work as we had done before, if not in the actual number
of pages learnt, at any rate in the amount we remembered afterwards.

CHAPTER X

A PICNIC AND AN ADVENTURE

"Beneath the trees we'll have one day
Of frolicsome employment,
And birds shall sing and winds shall blow
To help us to enjoyment."

The changed conditions at The Hollies, added to my long Christmas
holiday, had completely brought me back to my usual health and high
spirits, and I soon found the ordinary work of the class to be well
within my capacities. Now that Miss Percy's continual nagging was
removed I felt a different girl, and began to enjoy thoroughly my
school-life once more. Miss Hope, our new mistress, was one of those
bright sunny souls who seem able to bring the very best out of all those
who are near them. She made few rules, trusting much to our sense of
honour and good feeling, and so well did we respond to her kindness that
there was soon quite a different tone in the class, for the thought of
grieving her would deter us from wrong-doing far more easily than all
Miss Percy's threats of punishment. She had no favourites, but I think
that Cathy and I, as being more interested than the others in the
botany and natural history, which were her special subjects, came in for
an extra share of her affection, and I know we both worshipped her with
that depth of devotion which school-girls are ever ready to offer to a
teacher whom they really respect and love.

As the summer came on, with the long light days, we were taken out more
frequently for expeditions over the delightful Derbyshire moors. These
Saturday-afternoon rambles were looked forward to throughout the whole
week, and we would return from them with such red cheeks and hearty
appetites that I think Mrs. Marshall was amply satisfied with the result
of her new regulations. We all felt it a decided innovation when she
proposed a picnic instead of the usual mild garden-party with which we
had been accustomed to celebrate her birthday on the first of June.

"It's to