any longer," said Jack.

Phyllis regarded her scornfully.

"No, of course not! They're our dearest friends now, I suppose! I
suppose you've forgotten all about the Patriotic League we made when
the war was on, when we were Upper Third, Jack Pym?"

Jack wriggled a little uneasily.

"Well, yes, I _had_ forgotten a bit," she admitted. "But now that the
war's over we don't need that any longer."

"Have you forgotten Rule Six?" Phyllis went on steadily. "'That this
League vows and declares that it will for the future have no dealings
with any person or persons of German nationality, either in peace or
war.' Do you remember that?"

"Y--yes--I remember that," agreed Jack reluctantly.

"And how we all took a solemn oath that we would keep the rules, or
else count ourselves traitors to our King and Country?" pursued Phyllis
inexorably.

"Yes, I remember," said Jack.

"Well, there you are, then!" declared Phyllis triumphantly. "You
_can't_ go and make friends with Geraldine Wilmott, because you're a
member of the Patriotic League. We won't send her to Coventry or do
anything of that sort, because, of course, we haven't got any real
_proof_ that she's a German. But I vote we all steer as clear of her
as possible for the future, and take jolly good care she doesn't get to
know any of our private plans or secrets. She's just as likely as not
to go telling them all to the mistresses if she gets to know them. You
can't trust a person who's got German blood!"

And in this decision the Lower Fifth acquiesced, although it was really
hardly possible for them to steer more clear of the new girl than they
had done during the past week.

CHAPTER VII

GERALDINE MAKES A FRIEND

There was one individual in the school who took no part in the
ostracism of Geraldine Wilmott. This was Bruno, the headmistress's big
black dog. Bruno had taken a tremendous fancy to the new girl.
Perhaps in his big-hearted way he had divined how shy and miserable she
was, and wished to comfort her. And poor Geraldine, lonely and
home-sick, found an unexpected solace in the dog's companionship. In
the nature of things she could not see a great deal of him. Bruno was
sternly forbidden the classrooms during school hours, and his presence
in the dining-hall during meal-times was equally tabooed. The dog
seemed to understand these restrictions, and kept to them faithfully.
But at other times he made a special point of seeking out Gera