Henry the
Fifth's, work right through the algebra exercise, and write five
hundred words in German on 'Spring.' Thank the Lord, she teaches us
German! It will be some consolation for the rows we're bound to get
into, to think we shall be able to cut out that beastly German for a
bit. What does that leave us for to-night? French, history analysis
for Miss Latham, and that science paper for Miss White. Good! We
shall have a jolly slack time in prep to-night, shan't we?"

"There'll be an awful bust up on Monday morning, though," said Hilda
Burns.

Hilda was still rather doubtful about the strike. As head of the form,
she could not help feeling that she was slightly responsible for its
good behaviour, and might be called to account for its lawlessness by
the powers that were. But she was not strong enough to stand up
against Dorothy and Phyllis and their powerful following, so she cast
in her lot with the rebels and said no more against the graceless plan.

CHAPTER XIII

A BREAK IN THE CLOUDS

Gerry passed quite a cheerful dinner hour at Table Five that day. Jack
had pushed Nita Fleming aside just before lunch and had herself taken
the place next to Gerry.

"You don't mind, old girl, do you?" she said to Nita. "But I want to
sit next to Gerry Wilmott, just for a change."

"I don't mind," said Nita good-naturedly, used to Jack's vagaries. And
when Gerry arrived at the table, she found to her delight and surprise
that Jack was to be her next-door neighbour.

"Thought I'd change with Nita to-day," observed Jack laconically, as,
grace having been said, the girls sat down in their chairs. "I get fed
up with sitting in one place all the time." And then, as though afraid
to pursue the subject any further, she made haste to change the
conversation.

"What's for dinner to-day?" she asked, as the maids began to hand round
plates with a speed and dexterity born of much practice. "Oh, hang it
all--it's boiled mutton again! And I bet you anything you like it will
be boiled suet roll afterwards! Matron always likes to arrange things
like that. Boiled mutton, boiled potatoes, boiled turnips--what did I
tell you? I put my money on boiled suet roll for sweets."

"You're too optimistic," said Nita gloomily. "I feel in my bones it's
going to be rice pudding. Or if it isn't rice it'll be sago. If
there's one pudding I loathe worse than rice it's sago!"

"It won't be sago to-day," said Jack cheerfully.