ts and feathered caps, all of which were invaluable assets in
the way of stage properties.

"We must manage the rest of the costumes as best we can," said
Elspeth. "Charlotte Perry knows of a dressmaker who makes fancy
dresses very cheaply. She does them for other schools. The chief
question is the scheme of colour: Hilda wants us to copy exactly from
some celebrated picture, and Louise says it doesn't matter as long as
everything looks very bright and gay. Here's a book of costumes. Tell
me what you think."

As Gwen turned over the pages of the little volume, with its
illustrations of Bassanio, Jessica, &c., a horrible suspicion suddenly
shot into her mind. Where had she seen that book before? And just
lately too! Why, at home, of course! She had come into the
sitting-room suddenly and found Winnie and Beatrice discussing it over
the fire. Winnie had suppressed it instantly, but not before she had
caught a glimpse both of the illustrations and the title. She
remembered them perfectly. Now Winnie, as well as being Junior
Mistress for the Fifth, was a member of a class for higher mathematics
composed of a few Senior girls and taught by a professor who came
weekly from the University at Radchester. On the strength of this
class she considered herself still one of the Sixth for special
purposes, and licensed to take part in school performances. Was the
Sixth going to act in the _Merchant of Venice_? It looked uncommonly
like it. Why else should Winnie be studying that particular book of
costumes?

Gwen was in a dilemma. She did not know what to do. Not only did the
Rodenhurst code of honour regard Form secrets as being inviolable as
those of the confessional, but further she had been continually warned
by Father and Beatrice that, now Winnie was a mistress, she and Lesbia
must be particularly careful never to repeat anything they heard at
home which might be likely to compromise their sister at school. It
was clearly impossible to betray the least hint of her suspicion, but
on the other hand it would be an exceedingly stupid _denouement_ if
both Forms were to act the same play. She decided to try finesse.

"Have you absolutely decided on _The Merchant_?" she said. "Don't you
think it's rather stale to choose our Form subject? It's been done
before too."

"Not for three years," objected Elspeth. "That's quite time enough for
most of the girls to have forgotten it. Besides, I know the speeches."

"You could learn som