metic, with the old-fashioned
Spider. Alas for the finishing joys of Madame Clerc's select academy,
where the young ladies were taken about to see the sights of Paris, with
no other restriction on their pleasure seeking but that on one and all
occasions they should amuse themselves in French!

It grew wearisome to make ever the same reply to Miss Drake's question.
"No, she had never studied that subject."

"No, she had never seen this book." Mary stared unblushingly with her
little dark eyes. Agnes dropped her chin until it looked twice its
natural length, Susan flicked over the pages of her exercises and
appeared absorbed in their contents. Nancy smiled a furtive smile.

"No," cried Dreda desperately. "No, I know nothing about it! I--I have
been educated on quite different lines--I think I had better go on as I
have begun. I don't want to keep back the whole class. Let the others
go on as usual, and leave me out. I can join _in_ for the ordinary
subjects."

"Nonsense, Dreda. Nothing of the sort. We take up each subject afresh
at the beginning of the term, and if you work hard you will be able to
manage quite well. It is better to make a little push to keep in this
form than to go into a lower one with younger girls, and less
interesting work. I am not unreasonable. I shall not expect miracles;
do your best, and we'll help you on. I think you had better have a
special coach to whom you can apply if you want help or explanation in
your preparation. Now which of you girls would like to be Dreda's
coach, and spare her a little time when it is needed?"

There was a simultaneous rustle of assent, but two voices spoke first,
breaking the silence at identically the same moment.

"I!" cried Susan.

"Me!" cried Nancy.

Miss Drake smiled. "Oh, Nancy, Nancy!" she cried gaily; "a nice person
_you_ would be to coach another! Better give a little more attention to
your own grammar, my dear. Very well, Susan, that is settled. You
shall be Dreda's coach!"

Dreda and Susan looked at each other across the table in silence. Susan
saw flushed cheeks and eyes suspiciously bright. Dreda stared in
amazement, asking herself how it could be that anyone so much like the
two elder sisters could at the same time be so diametrically different.
Mary and Agnes were unusually plain, heavy-looking girls, but in Susan's
face there was at this moment, a light of sympathy which made it
strangely attractive. She possessed