termediates came in for no luck. Miss
Chadwick and her assistants, with the four gardening students,
monopolized the _Peveril_. They took Miss Todd, Miss Beverley, and Miss
Hampson out for airings on the lake; occasionally a senior was invited,
and once the four youngest girls in the school were given a brief treat.
All the rest had just to look on and long. Diana, indeed, extorted a
sort of half promise from Adeline that some time, when it was
convenient, and if she was not too busy, and if nobody else wanted the
boat, she would let her realize her ambition, but so far this promise
had remained an empty one, a vague invitation that meant nothing. Diana,
catching Adeline in the garden one afternoon, made a desperate effort to
obtain its fulfilment.

[Illustration: DIANA CALLED AND SHOUTED TO THEM. THEY TOOK NO NOTICE]

"Just for ten minutes," she pleaded.

"I'm so busy," evaded Adeline. "I've got seedlings to plant out, and
really haven't time to take people on the lake. What a bother you are,
Diana!"

"You said you would some time."

"Well, so I will; but the time isn't to-day. I've other things to do."

"May I help you to plant the seedlings?"

"No indeed! They need very delicate handling, and I'm responsible to
Miss Chadwick for them. Why don't you go and help Miss Carr?"

With a decidedly snubbed feeling Diana strolled away, not to help Miss
Carr, for it was recreation hour, and she felt at liberty to employ her
leisure as she liked, but to find Wendy or some other congenial spirit.
Wendy, Sadie, and Vi, however, had gone to the village with Miss Ormrod,
and Tattie, Jess, Magsie, and Peggy occupied the tennis-court. Diana was
the only one of the intermediates left out. She felt exceedingly
aggrieved. She stood for a while watching the set; but looking on at
tennis is never very amusing, so she wended her solitary way into the
house to fetch a book. Down the corridor bustled Miss Hampson in a
hurry.

"Diana! I was just wanting somebody, and you'll do. Will you go and tell
Adeline that Miss Todd wishes to speak to her as soon as she's finished
in the greenhouse?"

Miss Hampson, with her arms full of exercise books to correct,
disappeared into the senior room, and Diana departed on her errand.
Adeline was not in the greenhouse. She had not even begun to transplant
the seedlings, though the pots and the soil were ready. Diana waited a
few minutes to see if she would come, then went in quest of her. Bobbing