o the
old, slipshod, do-as-you-please regime of her schoolroom at Kilmore,
she would have decided most emphatically, despite strict rules,
scoldings, snubs, and unwelcome truths, in favour of Chessington.

Nobody wished to lie in bed on the morning of the picnic; even Honor,
to whom early rising was still one of the greatest banes of existence,
actually woke up before the bell rang, and had the triumph of rousing
her sleeping companion, a reversal of the customary order of things
that afforded her much satisfaction.

"It's delightful to think that St. Chad's is going off for a jaunt,
while all the other houses will have lessons just as usual," she
remarked. "I'm sure I shall enjoy it twice as much when I think of
Christina Stanton and Mary Nicholls toiling through equations and
physics."

"It will be their turn to chuckle next week, when St. Bride's has its
holiday," said Janie. "You'll feel rather blue then."

"No, I shan't--not if we've had our fun first. I shall turn
philosophical, and say: 'You can't eat your cake and have it', and
'Every dog has his day', or any other little platitude I can think of.
In the meantime, it's our day, and I'm glad to see it's a particularly
fine one."

At precisely nine o'clock, just when the rest of the Chessingtonians
were filing into classes, the Chaddites were assembled in the
quadrangle, and at a signal from Miss Maitland started off, two and
two, to walk to Dunscar, where they were to catch the steamer to
Avonmouth, the nearest point for Baldurstone. Everything seemed
delightful--the brisk march in the fresh morning air, the bright
sunshine, the glinting, sparkling sea, the foam churned up by the
steamer's revolving screw, the cries of the seagulls, and the steady
motion of the vessel as she headed out of the bay. The breeze in the
Channel was exhilarating, and so cool as to make the girls appreciate
Miss Maitland's wisdom in having insisted upon all bringing wraps.

"I thought it seemed as foolish as carrying one's winter fur and muff
on a broiling day like this," commented Lettice, "but I really think I
should have been cold without my coat. It's marvellous what an enormous
difference there is when you get well away from land."

Lunch was taken on the steamer, and they did not arrive at Avonmouth
until half-past one. They were landed in small boats, for there was no
pier, and vessels of any considerable size could not cross the harbour
bar. Miss Maitland counted up her