ands very bad?"

"They're both bandaged up," replied Enid. "She won't be able to use them
for some time. Wasn't it brave of her to rush at me with the duster? Do
you know, she's been so nice. We had a long talk last night, and she
told me ever so many things. She meant to go to Girton when she left
school, but her father lost all his money, and she had to begin to teach
at once, so that she could help a younger brother. She's paying for his
education herself, and he's doing splendidly at his school, and she's so
proud of him, and hopes he may win a scholarship. If I'd only known all
this, I wouldn't have made it so hard for her. I'm as sorry for that now
as I am about her hands being burnt."

"I always thought Miss Rowe was nicer than you imagined. I'm so glad
you've found it out," said Patty.

"I expect she's one of those people who improve on acquaintance,"
continued Enid. "I couldn't bear her at one time, and now I believe I'm
going to like her immensely. You can't think how jolly she can make
herself. I'll never be naughty in her class again, or let anybody else
be, if I can help it. On my honour I won't!"

Enid was as good as her word. When she and Miss Rowe were well enough to
again take their places in school, the young teacher found, to her
surprise, that all her trouble with the Upper Fourth was at an end. The
girls regarded her in the light of a heroine, and her new popularity
gave her an influence over them which her efforts at strict discipline
had not been able to gain.

"She seems quite different," said Winnie, voicing the feelings of the
class. "She's far pleasanter than she used to be, and now she doesn't
order us about so much, we don't seem to want to do so many things we
oughtn't. She's really very pretty, you know; her nose is just perfect,
and her hair is so thick and fair. Of course she can't compare with Miss
Harper, but still I like her ever so much better than I did before, and
I vote we give her a tremendous clapping on Speech Day."

CHAPTER XIII

The School Picnic

Towards the middle of July the girls at The Priory began to look forward
with eager anticipation to the annual picnic. In the minds of most it
was the great event of the summer term, and eclipsed even Speech Day.
Patty, who had not yet experienced the joys of such an excursion, was
anxious to learn something about it, and made many enquiries of her
friends.

"It's the loveliest fun," said Avis. "We have special sa