May, and must therefore already have made her
decision. Her motive was to spur on the whole of the Fifth to equal
effort. Her past experience had shown her that when a few top girls
only were taking an examination, the rest of the Form was apt to slack
and lose interest, and she considered there were several who, though
not actually candidates, would benefit by the special preparation, and
would make efforts on the chance of having been selected. Gwen did
not, of course, know whether her name was on Miss Roscoe's private
list, but she secretly cherished the possibility. She knew her work
had improved; indeed that it was equal to that of anyone in the Fifth.
There was no age limit for the Senior Oxford, and though she was the
youngest in her Form, her fifteenth birthday would fall on the first
day of the examination. Gwen was very ambitious; to be chosen as a
candidate, and to pass with distinction, seemed a goal worth all the
hard work of the school year. It brought visions of other and higher
examinations in years to come; honours and scholarships which were
waiting for those who had the pluck and the ability to win them, a
rosy dream of college and university success on a distant horizon.

"I'm going to be Gwen Gascoyne, B.A., somehow before I've finished,"
she thought. "I've made up my mind to that!"

It was just at this crisis that Beatrice caught a severe chill.
She--the wisest at health precautions where others were concerned--did
a series of exceedingly rash and foolish things, with the result that
she was obliged most reluctantly to give in, and allow Dr. Chambers to
be sent for. Though Beatrice tried to make light of her own illness,
the doctor took a different view of the case, and greatly to her
consternation ordered her promptly to bed.

"I can't stop in bed! It's impossible!" she protested indignantly.
"What's to become of the household? Nellie can't do everything;
besides, she's no head, and she'd forget to feed the chickens, or
she'd burn the bread, and let Martin tumble down the well if nobody
was there to look after her."

"Then one of your sisters must stop at home, for you've got to stay in
bed!" commanded Dr. Chambers. "Yes, I insist, and if you won't obey
me, I shall send for a hospital nurse to make you!"

At this awful threat Beatrice subsided into unwilling obedience, only
stipulating that her enforced retirement should be as brief as
possible, and that she might be allowed to direct domesti