was
its aspect? What was the nearest water supply? Etcetera.

One excuse for non-attendance, and one only, was allowed to pass
muster--a member who chanced to be in a hot bath what time the bell rang
forth the alarm might lie at ease and smile at the scurry without,
health and the risk of chill being considered before imaginary dangers.
If, however, the bath were _cold_, out she must get, dash into the coat
and skirt which, for members of the fire brigade, supplanted the
ordinary dressing-gown, and take her place with the rest.

Nor--with Darsie Garnett as captain--was it any use to attempt
deception, as a tired little Fresher discovered to her cost, when she
naughtily turned a warm stream into her cold bath and refused to budge.
No sooner were lightning-like instructions rapped out upstairs than down
flew the irate captain, rapped at the door, demanded admission, and--in
the absence of steam upon the wall--sentenced the cringing truant to a
month's suspension of privileges.

Nor was Darsie's own position free from anxiety, for once in a term it
was the prerogative of the brigade to surprise the captain, and woe
befall her prestige if, on that occasion, she were found wanting! Coat,
skirt, and slippers lay nightly on a chair by her bedside, together with
the inevitable pile of notebooks, and she felt a burden off her mind
when the alarm had come and gone.

Deep, deep down in the recesses of Darsie's mind there slumbered a fell
ambition. If there could be a _real_ fire before her term of office
expired! Not a serious one, of course--nothing to imperil the safety of
the dear old house, but just sufficient to cause a _real_ alarm, and
give the brigade an opportunity of demonstrating its powers! It was
almost too aggravating to be borne, to hear one morning that a second-
year girl had indulged in a study fire, and had extinguished it of her
own accord. Extinguished by private effort, when a captain, two
lieutenants, and fourteen "men" were languishing for an opportunity to
exhibit their powers! The captain spoke sternly to the second-year
girl, and rebuked her.

"How," she demanded, "can you _expect_ a reliable force, if precious
opportunities are to be wasted like this? Curtains ablaze, and the
bedclothes singeing. We may wait for _years_ for another such
opportunity!"

"But where do _I_ come in?" cried the second-year girl. "I gave ten and
sixpence for that quilt. And a jug of water standing close at