it begins again I shall go straight to Miss Todd."

"You'll be a sneak then," retorted Diana. "I've a great many scores to
settle with _you_, Hilary. You'll have a very unpleasant surprise before
long, so look out!"

Hilary did not deign to answer, but stalked away in majestic silence,
leaving gloom behind her. The girls knew perfectly well that even for a
holiday afternoon they had exceeded the noise limit. Visions of a
surprise visit from Miss Todd kept them silent. Tattie brought out her
sewing, and Peggy her painting. Sadie went down to the library for a
book. Wendy and Jess began a game of halma. Even Diana, after staring
disconsolately out of the window, settled to read _Ivanhoe_. Downstairs
the seniors, in peace and quiet, finished copying out their essays.

"They look so neat now they're done," rejoiced Geraldine. "Shall you
keep your old copy?"

"What's the use?" said Hilary. "Mine's all alterations and corrections.
I shall just tear it up."

"Well, so shall I."

Most of the others followed suit, and made a bonfire in the empty grate
with the originals of their essays. The fair copies they placed inside
their desks. Hilary put hers away with the short stories she had
written, and, happening to be in a rather communicative mood, she
confided the secret of these literary efforts to Stuart. Stuart was much
impressed.

"Why don't you try to publish them?" she asked.

"Well, I would if I could," admitted Hilary.

"I saw a little bit in the end of the _Blue Magazine_ saying that the
editor would be glad to consider contributions."

"Oh, did you? Where is it?"

"I'll find it for you."

Stuart hunted up the magazine, found the paragraph in question, and
tendered good advice.

"I'd certainly send them if I were you. Why shouldn't you try as well as
anybody else? They might be accepted. Just think of having a story in a
magazine! I'd die of swelled head if it were mine."

"I suppose there's no harm in trying," fluttered Hilary. "It would be a
joke to see one's own story in print."

"Send some of them off to-day."

"Shall I?"

"Why not?"

"I don't know which to choose."

"Oh, any of them!"

Thus urged, Hilary drew three of her manuscripts at a venture, put them
inside a long envelope, wrote a short note offering them to the editor,
enclosed it, fastened, addressed, and stamped her letter, and placed it
in the post-box in the hall.

"What fun if you have some luck!" said Stuart.

"I drew a ti