services, and there's not a huge rush for
them as a rule. Goodness knows we get enough church all through the
week, without having it three times on Sundays as well!" wound up the
graceless Jack.

"Once we always used to have to put our hats on every time we went into
Chapel," she went on. "But Miss Oakley isn't so frightfully keen on
old St. Paul's ideas about women as the last Head used to be, and she's
abolished it for weekdays. Sundays, of course, you have to wear your
hat, but not for everyday. It used to waste no end of time, putting
them on and taking them off twice a day; and Miss Oakley said she
thought it would be much more reverent really if we didn't always have
to scramble and rush about with them just before and after service."

"Is Miss Oakley nice?" asked Geraldine.

"Nice? Rather! She's absolutely tiptop! The best Head we've ever had
or are likely to have. You can't take liberties with her, though, and
she doesn't half know how to jaw you if you're sent up to her. We are
all frightfully keen on her here, but we're all half-scared of her too.
At least, I know I am! This is the Great Hall, where we have
mark-readings and assemblies and special meetings and things. Come
on--you don't want to go in there now. You'll see quite enough of it
later on. I want to show you the gym."

The gymnasium was a recent addition to the school, and quite a modern
building. It was fitted up with all kinds of marvellous and intricate
apparatus, and Jack proceeded to expand upon these with great gusto.
But, much to her disappointment, she found that Geraldine was not
nearly so interested as she might have been.

"Aren't you keen on gym, either?" she asked in surprise; and Geraldine
shook her head.

"I've never done any at all," she answered. "I--I don't much think I
shall like it. Swinging and climbing always make me feel so giddy."

"Well, you are a rum bird!" commented Jack. "No hockey, no gym--is
there _anything_ you can do, I wonder?" And she looked so concerned at
the new girl's lack of accomplishments that Geraldine felt very humbled
and apologetic.

"I'll have to try and learn," she said meekly, and Jack's face cleared.

"Oh yes, I expect you'll soon pick it up. Well, I think I've shown you
pretty nearly everything. Let's go back to the sitting-room, shall we?
It must be nearly supper-time now. I'm jolly hungry, aren't you?
We'll cut across the mistresses' quarters to get there. We're not