nd
groups of girls came hurrying towards the refectory from all parts of
the building.

"Be quick, my dear," said a teacher, passing Patty, and noticing her
hesitation. "Everyone is going to supper. Come with me, and I will find
a place for you."

Patty followed, rather nervous, but thankful that somebody would show
her where she must sit. The refectory was almost full when they entered.
It was a large room, with a groined roof like a church, and
stained-glass windows at either side. A long table occupied the entire
length, and at one end was a raised dais, with another table for the
mistresses. It resembled in this respect the hall of a college, and was
a subject of great pride to Miss Lincoln, who liked to think that the
school had its meals in the same place where the old monks had dined six
hundred years ago. Muriel was seated towards the centre of the table,
chatting to several friends in whose company she seemed entirely
absorbed. There was evidently no room in her vicinity, and the teacher
moved farther along and found a place for Patty nearer the end. She was
between two girls rather older than herself, neither of whom spoke to
her. One appeared to be in an uncommunicative frame of mind, and
answered abruptly when a neighbour asked her a question, and the other
was occupied with a conversation with two schoolmates at the opposite
side of the table. Patty ate her supper, therefore, in silence, feeling
exceedingly shy, and very much hurt that her cousin should have treated
her so unkindly. On her first evening common politeness would have
suggested that Muriel might have sought her out and introduced her to a
few other girls, instead of leaving her thus friendless and forlorn.
Even Jean and Avis were too far away to speak to, and she was yet an
absolute outsider to everyone else. There is nothing more solitary than
to feel oneself alone in a crowd, and the tears rose to poor Patty's
eyes at the remembrance of the nursery at home, where the little ones
would just have gone to bed, and Milly and Robin would be learning their
lessons for the next day.

When the meal was over, the whole school adjourned to the lecture-room
to listen to an opening speech from Miss Lincoln, who usually began the
term with an address to her pupils. The singing class sang a few glees,
and there was a recitation by one of the prefects; after that came
prayers, and then it was bedtime. Patty was escorted to No. 7 by the
same teacher who