the conceit
out of one to go up to college and compete with women instead of girls."

"Don't you like it, Tom? Are you happy? Didn't you miss the Manor, and
feel home-sick for the girls and the old school parlour?" queried Rhoda
eagerly, and Tom screwed up her face in meaning fashion.

"Should have done, if I had not kept a tight hand; but you know my
principle--never to worry over what can't be cured! Plenty to bother
oneself about, without that. I thought of you all a great deal, and
realised that I'd been even happier than I knew, and that I disliked
taking a bottom place so abominably that it was plainly the best thing
for me to do. I love power!" sighed Tom, wagging her head in sorrowful
confession, "and that's just what I see no chance of getting again for a
precious long time to come. I haven't much time to grieve, however, for
my poor little nose is fairly worn away, it's kept so near to the
grindstone."

"You look thinner," said Rhoda, truthfully enough. "Poor old Tom, you
mustn't let them wear you out. We will take care of you, at least, so
I'll go and order lunch earlier than usual, if you really must be off so
soon. The three o'clock train, I suppose?"

"Yes, please. Don't worry about anything special for me. Half a dozen
cutlets or a few pounds of steak is all I could eat, I assure you!" said
Tom modestly, and Rhoda went laughing out of the room, leaving her two
friends gazing at one another in an embarrassed silence.

No reference had so far been made to the accident which was the cause of
Evie's presence at the Chase, but it was impossible that the visit
should end in silence, and both instinctively felt that Rhoda's absence
gave the best opportunity for what must be said. The colour came into
Evie's face as she nerved herself to open the painful subject.

"You know, of course, Tom, that I am not going back to Hurst. Miss
Bruce has been most kind, but she must consider the good of the greater
number, and this accident has shown more plainly than ever the necessity
of having a House-Mistress who can job in the games with the girls. I
shall never be any good for a large school again, for, even apart from
the games, the long stairs and corridors would be too trying. So you
see my career is cut off suddenly."

"Yes, I see; I thought of that. It's very interesting!" said Tom in a
dreamy voice, which brought a flush of indignation into Evie's eyes.

"Interesting!" she repeated. "Is _tha