s a good motto to do
what you want until you're told not to. Ta ta! I'm off on a foraging
expedition. Expect me back when you see me. I'm going to put my powers
of persuasion to the test."

"You mad thing! Don't get into too big a scrape; Poppie can make herself
nasty!" called Hetty.

"Don't worry yourself! I'll keep carefully out of Poppie's clutches,"
returned Gipsy, as she banged the door of the Juniors' sitting-room.

"She'll get into a row with Poppie yet, though," said Dilys; "she's far
too free and easy for this school. Did you see how Poppie glared at her
this morning in maths.?"

"Yes, but Gipsy didn't mind. She takes Poppie very lightly."

"She'll go too far some day," returned Dilys.

How Gipsy managed to wheedle the cook nobody ever discovered, but she
returned in a short time triumphantly carrying a tray.

"Got all I wanted!" she announced. "A pan, and milk, and sugar, and even
a bottle of vanilla. Can't you clear a place on the table? The thing's
heavy."

A number of willing hands swept away books, needlework, and other
impedimenta. It was evening recreation hour, so nearly all the Junior
boarders were collected in the room. They viewed the interesting
preparations with pleased anticipation.

"There!" said Gipsy, putting her burden down with a slam. "I reckon if
any of you care to learn how to make American Fudge, now's your chance!
Positively the last opportunity! By the by, 'reckon' is one of the words
Poppie said I'd got to avoid, but it slipped out. I'll be more careful
next time."

"Does Poppie know you've got these things?" squeaked Aggie Jones, a
ten-year-old from the First Form.

"She's a trump if she let you!" echoed Pamela Harvey, of the Lower
Second.

"You kids mind your own business!" said Hetty Hancock hastily.

"Poppie never said I mightn't have them, which amounts to the same
thing," replied Gipsy calmly. "She hasn't given me a list of school
rules, so I can't break them till I know what they are, can I? There's a
law in most countries that a dog's allowed a first bite free. Well, this
is going to be my first bite. Do you want to join this cookery
demonstration, or not?"

"Rather!" said Lennie Chapman, "if you'll take the responsibility."

"And let us taste some of it afterwards!" added Daisy Scatcherd.

"I'd never be so mean as to eat it all myself. I'll share it round
evenly to the last crumb. Now, if you want to help, you may measure out
three cupfuls of sugar, and th