terval she received a summons to Miss Roscoe's study. She
went at once, wondering why she had been sent for.

"Hope the Head's not going to put me into the Sixth!" she laughed to
herself. "That would be rather too good a joke. I'm willing to be a
prefect or even proctor if I'm asked!"

Gwen's reception at her last visit to the study had been so
favourable, that this time she tapped lightly at the door, and entered
confidently. One glance at Miss Roscoe's face, however, showed her
that she was in dire disgrace. The Principal's rather handsome, heavy
features seemed to cast themselves in a Roman mould when she was
annoyed; her brows would knit, and her mouth assume a set, dogged
expression of authority. All these storm signals being visible, Gwen
quaked in her shoes. Miss Roscoe had an unopened envelope in her
hand, and to this at once drew her pupil's attention.

"Gwen Gascoyne, a letter arrived this morning addressed to you at
Rodenhurst. Now, it is one of our principal rules that no girls are
allowed to have letters sent to them at the school. Tell your
correspondent on no account to write to you here again. If I find
anything further addressed to you, I shall enclose it in an envelope,
and post it to your father. I will not have Rodenhurst made a vehicle
for clandestine correspondence. You may go, but understand clearly
this is never to happen again."

Gwen took the letter, and left the room in silence. She was too much
astonished to defend herself. She could not imagine who had written to
her and put the school address. As soon as she was in the corridor she
tore open the envelope. It contained a bill from "Messrs. John Parker
& Sons, Glass and China Merchants" for

"Replacing 10 articles in broken
Tea Service ... L1 2 6"

And at the bottom was written in a business hand:--

"Messrs. Parker beg respectfully to request Miss Gascoyne's
settlement of above. Should she prefer it, they will send
the account to her father. They beg to assure her of their
best attention at all times."

Gwen gasped.

"Why, I paid it!" she said almost aloud. "At least, I sent the money
by Emma. Is it possible she can have pocketed it? Oh, the deceiving
wretch! Where's Netta? I must tell her at once!"

She rushed into the gymnasium, and calling Netta aside, showed her the
fatal document. The two talked it over, aghast.

"Whew! This is a bad job!" exclaimed Netta. "Certainly it loo