ink you
can manage this? I've crossed various items from your own time-table to
allow for it."

"I'll try, Miss Tatham."

Secretly she was appalled at the amount expected from her. All her own
easiest and most favourite classes had been knocked off to make time for
her teaching, but the difficult lessons which needed most preparation
were retained. She was to act as a kind of general assistant in three
forms, which were managed by two mistresses, Miss Edwards and Miss
Harrison. Her first experience was to be with IIB. She encountered some
of its short-skirted members skirmishing round the playground. They
rushed up to her hilariously.

"Hello! Lesbia!" they greeted her. "Is it true you're going to be a sort
of teacher this term?"

"I believe so," said Lesbia, trying to keep her dignity.

"Oh, what sport!"

"A real stunt!"

"We shan't be a bit frightened of _you_!"

"You're so jolly, you _couldn't_ be cross!"

"Couldn't I? Just you wait and see. You'll have to behave yourselves, I
can tell you, when _I'm_ teaching, or I'll jolly well want to know the
reason why!"

The juniors exploded.

"Don't pile it on too thick!" urged Gwennie Rogers. "We know you,
Lesbia! You're not very tall and you aren't a scrap grown-up yet. You
don't look much like a teacher, I must say!"

"You'll find I _am_ one though," retorted Lesbia, dispersing the crowd
and stalking into the gymnasium, outwardly serene, but inwardly with a
sinking heart.

If this was going to be the attitude of the juniors it boded badly for
the future. She groaned at the vista of trouble in front of her. Why, oh
why, had capricious fate pitchforked her into a position for which she
had no real capability or appreciation? For one wild moment she wished
herself out in Canada. Then some secret voice within her seemed to
whisper.

"No! Be loyal to the school. You've stuck to it all these years, and if
anybody can teach those juniors its best traditions surely _you_ can!
It's a downright good opportunity."

"Why, so it is!" thought Lesbia. "I hadn't looked at it in that light
before. They're a set of imps, but I'll tussle with them for the sake of
the old High. I shall have authority at my back, and can call in Miss
Harrison if they get past bearing. All the same, I'm not exactly looking
forward to my first lesson. I wish it hadn't been dictation."

A very stately and grown-up little Lesbia walked into IIB next morning,
with dignity in her eye and iced a