l, and darted off on her
errand--fagging for Muriel Paget was esteemed a great honour amongst
the smaller fry at Wakehurst Priory. And so Gerry, sitting half-hidden
in a corner of the sitting-room, buried in a book, was presently
aroused by a violent jog at her elbow, and looked up to find Babs
Hethwaite standing beside her.

"Muriel Paget wants you in her study. She says you're to go to her _at
once_," burst out the messenger.

Several of the members of the form looked up interestedly at this
announcement, and many curious eyes followed Gerry as she made her way
across the room.

"Hullo, what's up? I wonder what German Gerry's been doing for Muriel
to want her in such a hurry?" commented Nita Fleming as the door closed
behind the new girl.

"Oh, nothing! Perhaps Sister's been complaining about her drawers or
something," said Jack, rather resenting the tone in which Nita spoke.
It was noticeable--or rather would have been noticeable if anybody had
been interested enough to notice it--that Jack never spoke of Gerry by
the objectionable nickname herself, although she made no comment when
others used it. Always, whenever Gerry was unkindly spoken of by
anybody, Jack felt an unaccountable desire to stick up for her and take
her part. If Jack had only been a little braver, she probably would
have done so. It was curious how drawn she had been to Gerry during
that first evening of the term when Monica had handed the new girl over
to her care. If only things had been different, she might have made a
real chum OF Gerry Wilmott--Jack reflected rather wistfully. But
though Jack was plucky enough where mice and hockey and material things
of that sort were concerned, when it came to braving the good opinion
of her fellows, her courage failed her altogether.

Gerry found Muriel sitting at her writing-desk, making out a revised
list for the afternoon's match.

"Oh, there you are!" the head girl said, as Gerry entered the room in
response to her "Come in." "Look here, you've got to play in the match
this afternoon for the Pink Dorm. Gladys Williams is down with 'flu
and you've got to take her place--right back. Do you think you can
manage it?"

Gerry gave a gasp of dismay.

"Me! Oh, but, Muriel, I'm rotten at hockey!"

"I know you are," said Muriel candidly. "But there literally isn't
anybody else--all the other girls in the Pink Dorm are away or down
with 'flu, or something. I never came across such a lot i