event a girl getting up early and going into the
garden, because it had never occurred to Miss Maitland that anyone
would wish to rise before the usual dressing-bell. Vivian knew that
Honor had been accustomed to much liberty in her Irish home, and that
she greatly chafed against the constraints of school life. What was
more probable than that, waking at dawn, she had longed for a breath of
the cool morning air, and was taking a stroll round the grounds?

"She may have a headache, or have slept badly," thought the monitress,
with an endeavour to be charitable. "These hot nights are very trying,
even with both one's bedroom windows wide open."

After all, it was not a very desperate offence, and there seemed no
need to report it to Miss Maitland. Vivian determined to listen for
Honor's footsteps and catch her on the stairs as she came back, or, at
any rate, to tax her with the affair later during the day, and point
out that in future such early rambles could not be allowed. In the
meantime, she went back to bed, and, in spite of her resolution to
intercept the returning wanderer, fell asleep again, and heard nothing
until the bell rang at a quarter to seven. In the busy whirl of
occupations that followed, there was no opportunity for any private
conversation with Honor, either before or after morning school; and
immediately dinner was over, all the Chaddites rushed off to watch a
croquet tournament between mistresses and monitresses, in which Vivian
herself was taking part. The day, therefore, passed exactly as usual,
and it was not until after tea, when the girls were just going to
preparation, that anything particular occurred.

At precisely half-past four o'clock Janie Henderson chanced to be
walking down the passage when she saw the door of Miss Maitland's study
suddenly open, and Vivian Holmes come out, looking so greatly agitated
and upset that Janie stopped in amazement.

"Why, what's the matter?" she exclaimed, for she was on sufficiently
friendly terms with the monitress to venture the enquiry.

"A great deal's the matter!" replied Vivian. "The worst thing that has
ever happened at St. Chad's, or in the whole College. I'd give all I
possess in the world to have nothing to do with it! I wish I weren't
monitress! Where's Honor Fitzgerald? I have to find her."

"She's practising," said Janie. "Shall I fetch her?"

"Look here!" returned Vivian. "Honor sleeps in your room; did you hear
her get up very early th