y--

"A Second Class! Good for you, Darsie! I thought you were going to
fail."

It was a relief. Not a triumph; not the proud, glad moment of which she
had dreamed, but a relief from a great dread. The girls congratulated
her, wrung her hand, cried, "Well done!" and wished her luck; third-
class girls looked envious and subdued; first-class girls in other
"shops" whispered in her ear that it was an acknowledged fact that
Modern Languages had had an uncommonly stiff time this year. Modern
Languages who had themselves gained a first class, kept discreetly out
of the way. Hannah said, "See, I was right! Are you satisfied now?"
No one showed any sign of disappointment. Perhaps no one but herself
had believed in the possibility of a first class.

The last band of students turned away from the gates with a strange
reluctance. It was the last, the very last incident of the dear old
life--the happiest years of life which they had ever known, the years
which from this moment would exist but as a memory. Even the most
successful felt a pang mingling with their joy, as they turned their
backs on the gates and walked quietly away.

Later that afternoon Dan and Darsie found themselves strolling across
the meadows towards Grantchester. They were alone, for, the picnic
having fallen through, Mr and Mrs Vernon had elected to rest after the
day's excitement, and Hannah had settled herself down to the writing of
endless letters to relations and friends, bearing the good news of the
double honours.

Darsie's few notes had been quickly accomplished, and had been more
apologetic than jubilant in tone, but she honestly tried to put her own
feelings in the background, and enter into Dan's happiness as he
confided to her his plans for the future.

"I'm thankful I've come through all right--it means so much. I'm a
lucky fellow, Darsie. I've got a rattling opening, at the finest of the
public schools, the school I'd have chosen above all others. Jenson got
a mastership there two years ago--my old coach, you remember! He was
always good to me, thought more of me than I deserved, and he spoke of
me to the Head. There's a vacancy for a junior master next term. They
wrote to me about it. It was left open till the lists came out, but now
I now it will go through. I'm safe for it now."

"Oh, Dan, I'm so glad; I'm so glad for you! You've worked so hard that
you deserve your reward. A mastership, and time to write--that's yo