he
striking of six o'clock Darsie leaped out of bed, and thrust her ruffled
golden head out of the opened window. A few feathery white clouds
served but to intensify the blueness of the sky; the air was soft and
sweet, the garden beneath was already bathed in sunlight. Darsie gave a
little caper of delight. Sunshine, a picnic, a pretty frock and hat
waiting to be worn, and one's very best friends to admire the result--
what healthy girl of twenty could fail to be happy under such
circumstances as these?

She sang as she dressed; she made little fancy steps, and three separate
pirouettes which would have delighted the heart of a terpsichorean
mistress. One pirouette greeted the effect of the white dress; the
second, that of the wide straw hat, with its appropriate garland of
blossom; the third was partly in celebration of the combined effect, and
partly out of sheer inability to keep still.

Her toilette completed, Darsie repaired to Hannah's room and surprised
that tasteless young woman engaged in putting the final touches to her
own costume, in the shape of an abomination designated "a neck
arrangement," composed of the cheapest of machine lace and papery satin
ribbon. Hannah jumped with dismay as a hand descended suddenly over her
shoulder, and tore this treasure from her grasp.

"No!" cried Darsie firmly. "You are my childhood's friend, and I love
you dearly, but wear lace frills with a linen collar at my Orchard party
you--_shall not_! Miserable woman! Will you never learn how to dress?"

"I paid eleven-three for it, near the end of a term. Thought I _would_
please you this time! Hate the tickling stuff myself. Some people are
never satisfied," grumbled Hannah, rummaging in her tie-box, but it
never occurred to her to dispute the decree. On questions of toilette
Darsie's word was absolute.

The two girls descended the stairs together, and found the other three
members of the party awaiting them at the door, Margaret and the little
Fresher abeam with smiles, and even Minerva herself looking quite young
and skittish. At moments like these it dawned upon the student mind
that even a don herself could occasionally enjoy a mixture of play with
her work.

At the river Mrs Reeves and the four men came forward to meet the
Newnham party, the canaders were ranged ready for the embarkment, and
Darsie felt the honours of her position press heavily, as the other
members of the party stood silently waiting for