dently the three prime points of
interest in the landscape. Spot, who had been fastened by his leash to
the railings outside, greeted the girls with noisy enthusiasm. Diana
untied him, and gave him a pear-drop.

"Bless him! He wants a bit of candy as well as the rest of us. He's a
'booful' dog with his patriotic ribbon on his collar. Stop barking,
that's a cherub boy, or you'll drive your Auntie Diana crazy!"

There was a short interval of shopping after the excursion up the tower,
and then Miss Todd pulled out her watch, compared it with the church
clock, and declared it was time to be returning. The motor-omnibus,
which started from Shipham, five miles away, was due in Glenbury at a
quarter to four. Miss Hampson marched her contingent to the
market-place, where it always stopped to pick up its passengers. Already
quite a crowd was waiting for it--people who had come in from the
neighbouring villages to see the peace rejoicings. There was no
policeman to insist on an orderly queue, so when the great scarlet
vehicle lumbered up, a wild scramble ensued. Some of the Pendlemere
girls were pushed in amongst the jostling throng, and some were elbowed
out. Wendy, Diana, and Miss Hampson, at the tail-end of the crush, tried
to scramble on to the step. The conductress, a brawny woman in uniform,
stopped them.

"Only room for one more," she shouted; "and I can't take that dog!"

"But we'd stand!" entreated Miss Hampson piteously.

"They're standing as it is! Can't take more than the 'bus is registered
for, or we'd break down at the hills. Room for one! Which of you's
coming? Be quick! I can't wait all day!"

It was a matter that had to be decided in a moment. Miss Hampson,
knowing that seven of her girls were already packed in the omnibus, felt
that she must go and escort them. She turned desperately to Wendy and
Diana, and panted:

"Miss Todd won't have started yet. Run to the 'Queen's'. She'll take you
back in the trap."

Then she allowed herself to be hustled inside by the impatient
conductress.

The two girls left behind stood staring for a minute after the
retreating omnibus. Spot, straining at his leash, barked his loudest.

"Well, I don't envy them their drive. They're packed like sardines,"
commented Wendy.

"I guess we've got the best of it," agreed Diana.

Evidently the next thing to be done was to walk to the Queen's Hotel and
report themselves, to Miss Todd. Diana was even beginning to speculate
wheth