she'll
be in the study. If she expels me, I could just go home in time for next
Thursday. Mother's giving a big garden party, and having some Russian
dancers down from London. They're to give a performance on a platform on
the lawn. I'm simply wild to see them!"

As Leonora walked calmly from the room, the girls broke into a universal
"Well!" of astonished comment.

"She didn't even tell you she was sorry, Gipsy!" remarked Lennie.

"Never mind! As long as she sets me right with Poppie I don't care,"
returned Gipsy.

"She seems to want to be expelled," said Dilys.

"Poppie's pet won't be expelled, no fear!" laughed Hetty. "Catch Poppie
parting with her millionairess! She's much too good an advertisement for
the school."

"I think Poppie'll have somewhat to say on the subject, though!"
remarked Dilys.

Both Dilys and Hetty proved right. Leonora was not expelled, but Miss
Poppleton gave her a severe lecture on the error of her ways, and a
warning against any further transgression of Briarcroft rules. She
returned to the Juniors' room in a very chastened frame of mind.

"Poppie was as hard as nails," she volunteered. "She won't let me go
home on Thursday to the garden party, so I shan't see the Russian
dancers. Isn't it a shame?"

"Well, in my opinion it about serves you right, Leonora Parker,"
retorted Dilys. "You've looked at the affair all along entirely from
your own point of view. I don't believe you'd have told now if you
hadn't wanted to go home. You've not begged Gipsy's pardon yet."

"Oh, never mind!" said Gipsy magnanimously. "What do I care, now it's
all serene with Poppie? I've proved I don't tell fibs, anyhow. I like
people to know I'm straight and square and above-board, and since
that's put right, I vote we drop the subject."

"I shall have the picnic next week, even if I don't see the Russian
dancers," murmured Leonora.

The suggestion of a united picnic for the whole of the Lower School,
which had been unanimously carried at the Guild meeting, had been
approved by Miss Poppleton, and the date fixed for a day early in July.
As it was the first outing in connection with the United Guild, the
girls were anxious to celebrate the occasion with as much observance as
possible. It had been decided to visit a castle about six miles away,
and it was thought that the ruins would provide a picturesque setting
for something in the nature of a grand ceremony.

"Like the Freemasons, you know," said Gipsy,