uding Jean, had already taken
this examination at home, the papers having been sent to them by post;
but owing to a mistake, this preliminary had been omitted in Patty's
case, and she must now give some proof of her attainments before she
could be placed in any form. It was an anxious morning for her. She
wrote on steadily, but it was difficult to do herself justice, as the
history paper was on a period she had not studied specially, and the
geography also covered new ground. She was allowed an hour for each, and
gave a sigh of relief when the clock at last struck eleven, and Miss
Rowe took her to the pantry for lunch. This was a very informal affair;
the girls ran in as they liked, and helped themselves to glasses of milk
and slices of thick bread and butter, which were placed in readiness for
them. Patty looked eagerly among the chattering throng for any face
that she knew, but though girls were hurrying in and out the whole time
she was there, she saw neither Jean, Avis, nor Muriel. All seemed
occupied in discussing school topics, and far too busy to notice her,
and when the great bell rang, everyone fled hastily to lecture or
classroom, and left her still standing with her empty glass in her hand.
She put it down leisurely, and was just wondering what to do next, when
Miss Rowe came bustling up.

"Come along at once, Patty!" she said, in a rather peremptory tone.
"Didn't you hear the bell?"

"Yes," replied Patty, wondering what she had done amiss.

"Then why are you not back at your desk in the classroom?"

"I didn't know----" began Patty, but Miss Rowe broke in as if she had
not the patience to listen to explanations.

"You will have to learn punctuality here," she said. "Any girl who is
late for a class loses an order mark. Now be quick and get on with this
arithmetic paper. I can only allow you till twelve o'clock for it, and
then you must begin the grammar."

Patty obeyed in silence, feeling much subdued. It was rather hard, she
thought, that when she was still so new and strange she must be scolded
for not keeping the rules of the school. She had not really known that
she was expected to hasten back to her examination at the sound of the
bell, and had, in fact, been waiting for Miss Rowe to come and fetch
her. The latter seemed annoyed. She hurried Patty to her place, and
handed her a fresh supply of manuscript paper with very scant ceremony,
then, taking up a book, appeared to be preparing some lesson. P