ean, detestable, contemptible sneak!"

"Shielding herself at your expense!" added Hetty indignantly.

Leonora turned as crimson as the woolwork she was stitching.

"I never thought of it in that way! It really never struck me!" she
gasped. "I'm sure I've no wish to shield myself at anybody's expense.
Why, if you want to know, it was I who went out in your waterproof and
galoshes."

Leonora's announcement made the sensation it deserved.

"You! You!" cried the amazed girls.

"But why did you go?"

"How could you do such a thing?"

"Why didn't you tell?"

"I went for a very simple reason," replied Leonora coolly. "You know how
fond I am of sweets, and what an abominably mean rule there is here
about our not buying them. Well, I just couldn't stand doing without my
chocolates, so I used to dodge out whenever I dared to that little shop
in Mansfield Road, and buy some. On that particular wet evening I was in
a fearful hurry to go before I began practising, so I rushed to the hall
cupboard and seized on the first waterproof and hat and galoshes that
came to hand. I didn't know they were Gipsy's."

"And yet you let her bear the blame!" exclaimed Dilys heatedly.

"I thought, as she hadn't really done it, she'd very soon clear herself.
She could have 'proved an alibi' directly, if the thing had been
properly gone into. There were heaps of girls who could have witnessed
for her. Even though she did crawl under the table and go out of the
room, the times didn't fit in, as Poppie would have found directly, if
she'd troubled to ask."

"That's true. Poppie was utterly prejudiced; she asked a few hasty
questions, never noticed whether the stories agreed, and jumped to a
conclusion," said Hetty.

"Then, when Gipsy came back, Poppie dropped the matter entirely,"
continued Leonora. "I thought she knew she'd made a mistake. I didn't
see any use in getting myself into trouble if I could help it, so I held
my tongue."

"And disgustingly mean of you, too!" exploded Lennie.

"You're the most extraordinary girl, Leonora! I never saw anybody like
you!" commented Dilys.

"You'll tell Poppie now, won't you?" urged Hetty.

Leonora shrugged her shoulders.

"Of course I shall. She can do what she likes. I don't mind if she
expels me! I'm sick of Briarcroft and its strict rules. I'd rather try
another school, where they'd allow one to buy more sweets. I never much
wanted to come here. I think I'll go and explain to Poppie now;