ere she
had already learnt many lessons quite apart from textbooks. The wildest
bird cannot fly with its wings clipped, and at school Honor was so
bound round with conventionalities and restrictions that she never
dreamt of raising such turbulent scenes as had sometimes been her wont
at home. The calm, firm administration of Miss Cavendish, Miss
Maitland's wise control, and Miss Farrar's brisk authority, all seemed
indisputable; and even the regulations of Vivian Holmes might not be
defied with impunity. The Fitzgerald pride could not tolerate a low
place in class, therefore Honor prepared her work carefully, so that
she might be above Flossie Taylor and Effie Lawson, emulation urging
her to efforts which love of learning alone would not have effected.
She did not indulge so frequently as before in either "tantrums" or
bursts of temper, for these provoked such ridicule from the other girls
that she felt rather ashamed of them; and even her overflowing spirits
began to be modified to the level of what was considered "good form" at
Chessington.

There is a vast power in public opinion, and Honor, who at Kilmore had
lived according to a model of her own choosing, now found herself
insensibly falling in with the general tone of the College, and
acquiring the mental shibboleths of her schoolfellows. Naturally all
this was not accomplished at once, and "Paddy Pepper-box", as she was
still nicknamed, had many outbreaks and relapses; but by the time the
half-term arrived, Miss Maitland, in a long talk with Miss Cavendish,
was able to report that "Honor Fitzgerald was marvellously improved".

"She has the elements of a very fine character," said the
house-mistress, "though at present it is like a statue that is still in
the rough block of marble: it will take much shaping and carving before
the real beauty appears. There is sterling good in her, in spite of
certain glaring faults. She is at a most critical, impressionable age,
and will require careful management. Everything depends upon what
standards she forms now."

Though the whole atmosphere of St. Chad's had its effect upon Honor,
she owed more than even Miss Maitland guessed to the influence of Janie
Henderson. Janie seemed to have the power of drawing out all that was
best in her friend's disposition. In some subtle fashion she appeared
to demand the good, and, by presupposing it was there, to bring it
actually into existence. Many new ideas of duty, consideration for