eady placed on the chair in her neat cubicle, though her box
had not been carried upstairs, and her mother was able to note with
approval the excellent arrangements of the bedroom, curtained off as it
was into four parts.

"I'm sorry you will not be with your cousin," said Mrs. Hirst, "but no
doubt you'll soon get to know your room mates. I should like to see
Muriel before we go. I wonder where she is! We must be quick, as we have
only ten minutes left before we must start again to the station."

Miss Graveson, the mistress, volunteered to send in search of her, and a
girl started on an urgent hunt through the school; but evidently it was
a difficult task, for it was only when the Hirsts' cab was at the door
that she returned with the object of her quest.

Muriel was a remarkably pretty girl, slight and graceful, with eyes as
blue as forget-me-nots, and long, silky, golden hair; she was generally
very artistically dressed, and always looked like a picture, a fact of
which she was extremely well aware. She greeted her uncle and aunt
without much enthusiasm, gave Patty her cheek to kiss, and did not seem
particularly delighted at having been called to speak to them.

"I expected we should have seen you before, dear," said Mrs. Hirst. "I
felt quite unhappy at the idea of leaving Patty alone, but now you are
here to show her the ways of The Priory, I'm sure she'll be all right.
Muriel will be able to tell you everything, Patty, so I give you into
her hands. Now good-bye, my darling child! Don't fret, and write to us
as soon as you can. We shall be looking forward to your first letter,
and please let it be a cheerful one."

CHAPTER III

First Impressions

Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of
the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a
brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.

"They've only just time to catch their train," she said, turning to
Muriel. "I hope the man will go fast. It would be so tiresome for them
to miss it."

"Why aren't they staying all night at the Queen's Hotel?" asked Muriel.
"Father and Mother always do when they come to see me and so do most of
the girls' friends."

"Father wouldn't be able to spare the time," said Patty, thinking
privately that the expense would also be a consideration, though she did
not say that aloud. "He must get home to look after his patients, you
know. Mr. Barnes, our new assistant, isn't very c