r mind. "A machine"--"never
forgetting--never late!" Not even her youthful complaisance could apply
that description to herself. The ghosts of past enterprises seemed to
rear reproachful heads, reminding her of their existence. To each of
the number had been sworn eternal fidelity, yet how short had been their
lives! The factory girl, for instance, who had received three long,
enthusiastic letters, and after the lapse of a year was still awaiting
the receipt of the fourth. Poor Emma Larkins had been so appreciative
and grateful. Dreda had been able to talk of nothing else for the first
week of the correspondence. She had planned a lifelong friendship, and
in imagination had seen herself, aged and wealthy, acting the gracious
benefactress to a second generation. _How_ had she happened to forget?
She had been busy, her father had taken her for a trip abroad, she had
joined a society for the study of French classics. The time had flown
by until she had been ashamed to begin writing again. No doubt another
correspondent had taken her place ... "_Susan has no experience_."
True! Yet if one wished to describe Susan's character, could one do it
more aptly than by using Nancy's own words? "Careful, methodical,
machine-like as to accuracy!" _What_ did Nancy mean? Was she really
and truly in earnest, or did some hidden meaning lurk behind the
seemingly innocent words? Dreda drew a long breath, and set her teeth
in the determination to set an example of diligence and punctuality to
all sub-editors beneath the sun, and by so doing to demonstrate in the
most practical of fashions her suitability for the post.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy--and Jill a dull girl also.
Miss Bretherton was a firm believer in this old adage, and loyally tried
to provide a due proportion of amusement for her pupils. In the winter
terms bad weather often interfered with outdoor sports, but every
alternate Saturday evening a reception was held in the drawing-room
between the hours of seven and nine thirty, on which occasions thirty
pupils dressed for the fray with gleeful anticipation, and the thirty-
first with trembling foreboding, for it was she who was chosen to play
the part of hostess and take sole management and responsibility of the
entertainment.

All pupils in the fourth and fifth term were considered old enough to be
hostesses, so that no girl was called upon to play the part more than
twice