g. Dorothy as captain made
a much better leader than Helen Stanley had done a year ago, and Patsie
and Vivien as half-backs were considered rising stars. The second team,
which hitherto had been rather contemptible, raised its standard to an
amazing extent, and seemed to promise great things. The girls began to
look forward to Wednesdays.

One bright sunny afternoon in early November they were assembled on the
field. In their navy serge skirts and scarlet jerseys they made a bright
patch of colour against the green of the grass and the autumn blue of
the sky and the grey-blue expanse of sea that spread beneath the yellow
cliffs. It was a pretty scene, with a background of late-flowering gorse
bushes and a foreground of corn marigold that edged the field. The
sunshine fell on the athletic figures and hatless heads of the teams. A
very pretty scene indeed, and so evidently thought a dark-faced,
clean-shaven individual who was dodging about the gate, busy with a
camera. He fixed a stand, put his head repeatedly under a black velvet
cloth, and was apparently focusing upon the groups of players. The girls
noticed him, and pointed him out to Miss Paget. The dragon in her was at
once roused to wrath, and she advanced in defence of her flock.

"May I ask on what authority you're taking photographs of this school?"
she asked icily.

The stranger was all smiles and civility. He displayed an excellent set
of teeth as, with a decidedly foreign bow and flourish of his hat, he
offered a plausible explanation.

"I ask your pardon, Madam! I am an American--a journalist. I have been
sent by my newspaper to England to write an article upon Girls' Schools.
I have heard of yours, and wish to include it in my report, with a photo
of its pupils. I crave your permission to take a snapshot of the game."

Miss Paget stared at him with suspicion. She was a good judge of
character, and had studied types of nationality; moreover, she had
herself spent six months in the United States. The man's physiognomy and
accent were anything but American. She would set them down as decidedly
Teutonic.

"Certainly not!" she replied. "Miss Kingsley would not dream of
permitting it."

"But I have permission from Miss Kingsley!" he fawned. "I am to send her
photos."

"Miss Kingsley did not mention the matter to me, and unless I have her
express directions I cannot allow it. Will you kindly remove your
camera?"

"Just one little snapshot!" he begged in