It had been an old-established custom at the school that once in each
term the seniors should hold a kind of bean-feast. They met to read
aloud papers, and suck sweets. Their doings were kept a dead secret from
the juniors, who naturally were exceedingly curious, and made every
effort to overhear the proceedings. On this occasion the seniors took
elaborate precautions against intrusion from the lower school. Two
monitresses stood in the cloak-room and sternly chivvied the younger
girls to hasten their steps homewards. They went unwillingly and
suspiciously.

"Why are you in such a precious hurry to get rid of us to-day?" asked
Mona Parker, pertly. "You're not generally so keen on us going off
early."

"There's been too much loitering about the cloak-room lately,"
vouchsafed Dorothy.

"Bow-wow! How conscientious we are, all of a sudden! You've something up
your sleeve, I think, Madam Dorothy!"

"Mona Parker, put on your boots at once, and don't cheek your betters!"

"But there _is_ something going on, I'm sure!" piped up Josie Payne.
"Nellie, be a sport and tell us!"

"Mind your own business, and don't butt in where you're not wanted! How
long _are_ you going to be in lacing those shoes?"

"There, there! Don't get ratty! I'm ready now!"

The dilatory juniors, by dint of much urging, were at last hustled off
the scenes. The ringleaders among them departed in rebellious spirits,
which fizzed over in the playground into a series of aggressive
cock-a-doodle-doos, significant of their attitude of annoyance.

The monitresses wisely took no notice. They were too glad to be rid of
the younger element to follow into the playground and do battle. Having
cleared the premises, they passed the signal "all serene!" and repaired
to the summer-house. It was a good place for a secret meeting, for it
was at the bottom of the garden, facing the main path and a patch of
lawn, so that it would be quite impossible for anybody to come from the
house or the gymnasium without being seen. The accommodation was
limited, but some of the girls sat on the floor, and some on the gravel
in front. It had been a matter of considerable difficulty to procure
sweets, and every likely shop in the town had been foraged. The result,
though not very great, was quite wonderful for war-time: there was
actually some chocolate, some walnut toffee, two ounces of pear drops,
and some gum lozenges. The contributions were pooled, and shared round
imparti