n what she _did_ know, that the gaps of
ignorance remained unsuspected. Susan, the prudent, shook her head over
this juggling with fate, and foretold confusion in the coming
examinations; but Dreda was content to sun herself in the present
atmosphere of approbation and leave the future to take care of itself.
Given a free hand by her parents, she had entered her name for every
examination on the school list, and hardly a day passed that she did not
propose a new scheme or exploit to her companions.

The time for these propositions was generally the cherished half-hour
after tea, when the fourth form girls gathered round the fire in the
study to chat over the doings and happenings of the day. Then Dreda was
in her element, and every day, as it seemed, was filled with a fresh
ambition.

"When does your school magazine come out next?"

"Never! Haven't got one to `come out.'"

"_Haven't got one_? A school without a magazine! How disgraceful! I
should be ashamed to confess it. Why haven't you?"

"Too much fag!"

Dreda gasped with horror.

"Why, even at home, where we are only six, we have an--an--" She paused,
anxiously searching for a word which should be sufficiently vague--"an
_annual_, with stories, and illustrations, and correspondence columns
just like real. I was `Aunt Nelly' and answered the questions. Such
sport! ... `Yes, my dear, at fifteen you are certainly far too young to
be secretly engaged. Confide the whole story to your dear mother. A
mother is ever a young girl's wisest confidante.'--(Of course, no one
really asked me that. I made it up. You have to make up to fill the
page.) ... `So sorry your complexion is spotty. Rub it over with lemon
juice and oil. Never mind if you _are_ ugly. Be good, and you'll get a
sweet expression, and that is better than any beauty.' ... Ha, ha!"
She tossed her golden mane with a derisive laugh. "_Just_ like a real
mag.! Then I put things in for the boys, of course--got them out of
cricket reports and encyclopaedias--it looks out well to have learned
bits here and there. And you can give lovely hints! It would be
awfully useful in a school, because you could say whatever you wanted
without being personal ... `No! the old adage, "Finding is keeping"
does _not_ apply to your companions' indiarubbers and pencils. It is
not considered honourable in good society to pare off initials inscribed
thereon for purposes of identification.'" She chuckled ha