red even a remark.

[Illustration: "EVERYBODY SEEMED TO BE FRIENDS AND TO BE OCCUPIED WITH
SOME GAME OR AMUSEMENT EXCEPT HERSELF"]

"Do they always boycott new girls like this?" thought Patty. "It was
very different at Miss Dawson's. If a fresh girl came we used to be so
nice to her, and show her everything. If this is a big school, I'd much
rather have a little one. Oh! what can I say to Mother when I write? I
can't possibly pretend I'm happy, and I'm sure she'll expect me to
mention Muriel. I shall just have to tell her about the exams., and what
class I'm in--and I don't even know that myself yet. I must send a
letter to-morrow, I promised they should hear by Friday; but I wish I
could have told them some better news."

Patty's circumstances were certainly a little exceptional. Miss Lincoln,
as a rule, took care that every newcomer was given in charge of some
classmate, who was instructed to show her the ways of the school, and
make her feel at home there; but knowing that Patty was Muriel's cousin,
the headmistress had naturally thought it unnecessary to specially
introduce her, expecting she would at once find herself in the midst of
a pleasant set of companions. If she had had the slightest suspicion of
the true state of the case, she would have been much distressed, as she
took great pains to cultivate nice feeling among her girls, and
especially to allow no one to be neglected or unkindly treated. Miss
Rowe, the only teacher who so far had had anything to do with Patty, had
been too busy and occupied to notice whether she appeared to be mixing
with the rest of the school, and having dismissed her to the garden, did
not give her another thought. Several girls, so Patty learnt afterwards,
watched her strolling down the paths, and had half thought of speaking
to her: but thinking she was perhaps only looking for some friend, they
had not carried out their good intentions, and for the present she was
left alone. Tea was at four o'clock, and was followed by preparation
until a quarter to seven.

"Miss Lincoln has not yet been able to correct your papers, Patty," said
Miss Graveson, "so I cannot set you any definite work; but you can come
with me to the Fifth Form room, and I will find something for you to
do."

Patty followed obediently to the classroom in question. The ten girls
who occupied the desks were all strangers to her, and as strict silence
was the rule, there would certainly have been no opportunity f