ds of flowers, the decorators
contrived to make dormitory 13 look absolutely _en fete_. They borrowed
a table from another bedroom, placed the two together, covered them with
a cloth, and spread forth the cakes which Antonio had been commissioned
to buy.

"Elvira will fetch us the teapot and the bread and butter at four. We
can yank into our costumes in a few seconds, so we needn't waste much
time. Don't let Miss Darrer keep you dawdling about the studio," urged
Agnes.

"No fear of that. The moment the bell goes it will be 'down pencils.'
She can hold forth to the others to-day if she wants to talk after
school. By the by, everybody's _so_ jealous of us!"

"I know! The seniors are grumbling like anything because they didn't
think of having a bedroom tea for Phyllis. It's their own fault. They
haven't another birthday amongst them this term. That's the grievance.
And Miss Morley won't give leave for a dormitory stunt unless it's
somebody's birthday. She's firm on that point. We've certainly all the
luck."

The Camellia Buds pursued their art studies that afternoon with a
certain abstraction. Peachy worked with her left wrist poised, so that
she could obtain a perpetual view of the new gold watch that had arrived
by post that morning; Delia frittered her time shamelessly; Esther was
guilty of writing surreptitious messages to Joan upon the edges of her
chalk copy of "Apollo"; and Irene, usually interested in her work, had a
fit of the fidgets. The moment the bell sounded and the class was
dismissed they bundled their pencils into their boxes, and left the
studio with almost indecent haste.

"Only an hour and a half altogether for our stunt doesn't leave us much
time to be polite," remarked Aggie, smarting under a rebuke administered
by Miss Darrer, who had restrained their stampede and insisted upon an
orderly retreat. "It's all very well for people to saunter elegantly
when they've nothing particular to do. I dare say the Italians _may_
look dignified, but we can't stalk about as if we were perpetually
carrying water-pots on our heads."

"American girls have more energy than that. I'm just ready to fly to
bits," declared Delia, prancing down the passage like a playful kitten.

"I give everybody five minutes to get on their costumes," decreed Jess.
"Peachy must stay outside in the passage and wait. I'll tinkle my Swiss
goat-bell when you're all to come in."

Peachy, pulling a long face of protest, took her stand