equate one too! But it was
not one that she could tell to Miss Burton. So she said nothing at
all, merely clenching her hands tighter under the desk in the endeavour
to keep back the tears that were not so very far away at the moment.

Her silence appeared to exasperate the mistress.

"Answer me when I speak to you, Geraldine. Have you any explanation to
give of the disgraceful way you have done your work this morning?"

"No, Miss Burton," muttered Geraldine, hanging her head.

"Sit up properly in your desk, then, and don't sulk," rapped out Miss
Burton. "I cannot bear a girl to sulk when she is scolded. It seems
to me that you have got what was known in my nursery days as the Little
Black Dog on your shoulders this morning."

A titter ran round the classroom and Gerry got fiery red. She had not
been sulking--she had only been trying to hide how very near the tears
were. But it was impossible to make Miss Burton understand this, and
Gerry did not attempt it. If she had tried to speak she must assuredly
have burst into tears. So she sat upright in her desk and tried not to
mind, while Miss Burton continued to make sarcastic remarks at her
expense, until at last, having somewhat relieved her ill-humour, the
mistress left the classroom.

Gerry felt very depressed as she put her books listlessly away. Most
of the form had departed soon after Miss Burton had left the room, only
Gerry, and Phyllis and Dorothy, who were comparing notes on their
morning's marks, remaining in the classroom. Gerry's eyes were so full
of unshed tears that she did not notice that only her two special
enemies were left in the room. If she had, she would probably have
hurried over her desk-tidying and got out of their way. She always
tried to avoid being left alone with these two, if she could possibly
manage it. But it was not until Phyllis spoke to her suddenly that she
awoke to the fact that none of the other members of the form were
present.

"Well, sneak," said Phyllis, in a jeering tone. "Your precious Miss
Burton, whom you stuck up for so bravely the other night, doesn't seem
to thank you much for your championship, does she?"

Gerry said nothing. There really did not seem to be anything to say.
With a great effort she choked back her gathering tears, and hastily
finished putting away the books in her desk. But Phyllis was not to be
baulked of this splendid opportunity of baiting her enemy.

"She's sulky," she said t