hould feel great interest in the girl she had almost reared and whose
own power for good or ill Winifred herself could not yet comprehend.

"Ah, now, Miss Muriel, you know I will! Why, surely, I've been as good
for a whole week as if I were a kindergarten Minim. You should trust
me more. I read the other day that people are just what you think they
are. So, whatever you want me to be, please just think I _am_ and
I'll be it!" and the audacious creature actually dabbed a kiss on the
Lady Principal's own cheek.

"Wheedler! Well, I'll try to fancy you're a saint, but I'm not so
fanciful about this Dorothy Calvert. She's a pretty little thing and
my Grace made friends with her at once and the Bishop says she is of
good blood. That counts, of course, but she seems to me a little
headstrong and very stupid. I don't yet understand how Miss Hexam came
to put her into so high a Form. However, I know that she is very
homesick, as all new pupils are, so you may entertain her if you wish.
A maid shall send you in a tray and you are excused from school
supper; but see to it, Winifred, that you use your influence aright.
The more favored a person is in this world the more that individual
should watch her own actions."

Winifred thanked the teacher and backed out of the room as if in the
presence of royalty itself. This action in itself was offensive to the
teacher but was one she could hardly criticise; nor did she guess
that, once out of sight, the "wheedler" should first stamp her foot
and exclaim:

"I'm sick to death of hearing about my 'influence' and being an
'individual.' Makes me feel like a spider, that time the German count
came to visit Father and called his attention to 'that individual
crawling down the wall.' He meant 'one, a solitary thing.' But I'm no
'solitary' just because Father has a little money. I often wish he
hadn't a pound, especially when some of the 'Peers' try to make me
believe he is at least a 'Sir'."

Then hurrying to Dorothy she danced about in delight at her success.

"Yes, she says you may come, and she's sure to send us in a fine
supper. Miss Muriel Tross-Kingdon never does a thing by halves, not
even a lecture on 'individual influence.' Queen Baltimore, aren't you
glad you're poor?"

"Neither glad nor sorry, Winifred, because I'm neither rich nor poor.
Anyway neither of us can help being just as we are, I reckon."

"Come on, though, and hurry up. 'If it were done, when 'tis done, then
'twe