r busy hours, and let the helpful words we read influence our
ordinary life and go towards the building of character, which is the
most invaluable of all possessions."

At half-past six there was a short service in chapel; and the rest of
the evening, after supper, was given up to the writing of home letters.

All the routine of the school was still new to Honor, and she felt very
strange and unusual as, precisely at ten o'clock, she took her place
among the lines of Chessingtonians marshalled in the quadrangle
preparatory to setting off for church. Miss Cavendish gave the signal
to start, and the two hundred girls filed along two and two, all
dressed alike in white serge coats and skirts and best sailor hats,
with their house colours, the blue ribbons of the School House leading
the way, followed by the pink of St. Aldwyth's, and the orange, violet,
and scarlet of St. Chad's, St. Bride's, and St. Hilary's, respectively.

"I believe it's considered one of the sights of the neighbourhood to
see us parade through the lich-gate," said Lettice Talbot, who happened
to be walking with Honor. "Visitors stand in the churchyard and try to
count us. They make the most absurd remarks sometimes; I suppose they
think we shan't overhear what they say. Really, they seem to look upon
us as a kind of show, and I quite expect we shall be put down in the
next edition of the guide-book as one of the attractions of Dunscar. Of
course, we take no notice. We walk along with our noses in the air, as
if we weren't aware that anyone was even thinking of us; but all the
same we feel giggles inside when we catch a whisper: 'They look like
angels dressed in white!' or, 'What a pile of washing they must make!'"

Honor had been looking forward immensely to this Sunday morning, for
she hoped she might have an opportunity of seeing her brother Dermot,
who was at Dr. Winterton's school. Dermot was her favourite among her
five brothers, and the thought that Orley Grange and Chessington stood
only a mile and a half apart had so far been her one thread of comfort.
To catch even a distant glimpse of Dermot would be like a peep at home,
and she felt that a moment's talk with him would be sufficient to send
her back to St. Chad's rejoicing.

The students of the College occupied the whole of the left aisle of the
church, and the right aisle was reserved for Dr. Winterton's pupils. As
a rule, the girls arrived early and took their seats first; and they
alwa