son.

"I've not been doing anything!" protested Gwen indignantly. "You've no
need to look at me as if I were a cross between a criminal and a
martyr! Here, you babe, what did Miss Roscoe say?"

"Only that you're to go to the library; and you'd better be quick,
because she said: 'Tell her to come at once!' Said it in her snappiest
way, too! I shouldn't be a month about going if I were you. Hello!
There's the bell. Ta-ta, I'm off! I wish you luck!" and Ida Bridge
fled to the region of her own classroom, with a grin on her impish
face.

Though she might rail at the impudence of the small fry, Gwen was not
above taking a hint--headmistresses do not lightly brook being kept
waiting--so she started at a run up the passage, turning over in her
mind every possible crime which she might unwittingly have committed.

"Can't remember using the front gate, or not changing my boots, or
talking on the stairs, or--oh, wow! Here I am at the library! Well,
whatever I've done, I suppose I'm in for it now! I hope she won't
absolutely wither me up!"

So far from looking withering as Gwen entered the room, the Principal
wore an unusually encouraging and benign expression. She was a
handsome, large, imposing woman, with a stern cast of features, and
was held in great awe by the whole school. As a rule, Seniors and
Juniors quailed alike under the glance of her keen dark eyes.

"Come here, Gwen," she said blandly, as her pupil stood hesitating
near the door. "I want to have a little talk with you. I've been
looking over your reports for the last few weeks, and I find that
you've done well--so well, that I consider the standard of the Upper
Fourth is too easy for you. I think you ought to be able to manage the
work of the Fifth Form, and I'm going to move you there."

Gwen stared at Miss Roscoe, too surprised to answer. Such a proposal
as a change of Form was absolutely the last thing she could have
expected. In the middle of a term it was surely an unprecedented
happening. For the moment she scarcely knew whether to be alarmed or
flattered at the honour thus thrust upon her.

"You may find the mathematics a little difficult," continued Miss
Roscoe; "but Miss Woodville shall coach you until you've caught up the
rest of the class. She can also go over the arrears of Latin
translation with you. With that help you shouldn't be so far behind.
I've spoken to both Miss Slade and Miss Douglas about it, and they
fully agree with me. Do you thi