d passed any number of examinations with
flying colours, but had no knowledge of human souls. From the very first
she set everybody's bristles rising. The teachers, accustomed to Miss
Tatham's personal magnetism, were put out by abrupt criticisms and lack
of consideration, while the girls declared that a gorgon had been sent
to reign over them. Miss Ormerod, to do her strict justice, was
hardworking and conscientious. She never spared herself. It was a
difficult post, and she filled it according to her own lights. If she
found what she judged slackness she was doing her duty to correct it.
But between a "wise administrator" and a "jack-in-office" there is all
the difference in the world. Some women love power, and exercise it
unmercifully. Woe betide the lesser planets that are forced to circle in
their orbits.

The school, accustomed to discipline, obeyed, but grumbled under its
breath.

"Miss Tatham never made any silly rules about not talking in the hall,"
declared Kathleen indignantly, coming into the Sixth Form room smarting
from a sharp rebuke and confiding her woes to a sympathetic circle.

"No! It's perfectly ridiculous. We must talk somewhere, I suppose."

"We shall be having 'Silence' in the cloakroom next."

"Or in the playground."

"I wish darling Tatie was back."

"You didn't call her 'darling' when she was here."

"Well, I do now."

"Miss Ormerod's as hard as nails."

"I want to call her 'ramrod' myself."

"Oh, don't be clever, please."

"She blinks and winks through those spectacles."

"Don't you _hate_ spectacles?"

"And there's a little sort of grate in her voice, and then she clears
her throat, and you know she's going to say something unpleasant."

"I meant to like her," declared Ernie thoughtfully. "I came to school on
her first day prepared to adore her. I think it was because I once knew
a Miss Ormerod who was very pretty. Well, I tell you, directly I saw her
I got a shock. I thought I had never seen anyone so horrid in my life. I
felt we were opposite poles. I don't know when I took such an intense
dislike to anybody. It's what you call an 'antipathy'."

"Not 'love at first sight' exactly!"

"Hardly!"

"'I do not love you, Dr. Fell, The reason why I cannot tell!'" quoted
Calla.

"But I _can_ tell the reason. She's cross, and a martinet, and she never
makes any jolly jokes like Tatie used to do--bless her heart!"

"You're altogether gone on Tatie nowadays."

"Of course I