ells.
The pent-up energy that wanted to spend itself in walking must find some
other vent. The seniors, with one accord, retired to their form-room to
copy out their essays. Miss Chadwick charitably conducted the juniors,
clad in mackintoshes and goloshes down to the stable, and let them climb
the ladder on to the hay in the loft, where she sat and told them
stories. She did not invite the intermediates, so they were left to
their own devices.

Diana, suffering from a cold, annoyed with the weather, and cross that
she was not allowed to go out into the rain, raged up and down the room,
and finally, for lack of any other form of physical exercise, organized
a jumping competition.

The girls scrambled over the desks and took leaps on to the floor. They
squealed as they did so, and every now and then broke into hallos or
bursts of song. It was certainly not a quiet occupation. In the midst of
the riot the door opened, and Hilary, in a towering temper, made her
appearance.

"I never heard such a disgraceful noise in my life!" she stormed. "It
sounds like a menagerie or an infants' tea-party. Great girls of your
age to be jumping about like babies. You ought to be ashamed of
yourselves! Here are we all trying to copy our essays; and how d'you
think we're going to write with that racket going on over our heads? If
you don't stop I shall fetch Miss Todd. She'll hear it for herself very
soon, if you don't take care, and then there'll be squalls. She's
working in her study."

There was truth in Hilary's remarks. Though they would not acknowledge
there was anything derogatory to the dignity of intermediates in
indulging in the pastime of jumping, they knew full well that should the
noise penetrate to the precincts of the study Miss Todd would issue
forth like a dragon. But Diana was cross, and not disposed to take
reproof lightly. She pulled one of her most impossible faces, and
stormed back at Hilary.

"You seniors want to have the school all to yourselves! It's a holiday
afternoon; and why shouldn't we do as we like? We've just as good a
right to amuse ourselves in our own way as you have. I don't see why you
should tyrannize over us. You're always interfering! What business is it
of yours what we do?"

"Very much my business, Diana Hewlitt, considering I'm prefect," said
Hilary grimly. "If I've any more cheek from you you'll march down and
report yourself in the study. This noise must stop. I give you warning
that if