ed by Miss Janet, had spent a busy but
successful time in preparation, and the room looked quite festive. Flags
decorated the platforms, and Chinese lanterns were suspended from the
beams of the roof. Round the wooden walls hung a show of sketches,
drawings, maps, illuminations and photographs, fastened up with tacks
and drawing pins, and on the tables was spread forth quite a goodly
display of moths, butterflies, beetles, shells, sea-weeds, pressed wild
flowers, fretwork, pokerwork, and needlework. All specimens were
labelled with their owners' names, so it was excitement to walk round
and compare notes. Lorraine, listening critically, judged the mental
barometer of the school from the juniors' remarks, which, if slangy,
were certainly complimentary.

"Peggie! You paragon! What a perfectly chubby little bag! I couldn't
have made it if I'd tried till Doomsday!"

"I should cock-a-doodle, Jill, if _I'd_ done that illumination!"

"Is this sketch really _yours_, Mabel? Hold me up! I feel weak."

"Wonders will never cease! Here's old Florrie made a collection of
shells."

"I think this show is a stunt!"

"Absolutely topping!"

"Keep out of my way, you blue-bottle! I can't see!"

"All right, old thing! Don't get raggy!"

When the exhibits had been duly admired and notes compared as to their
respective merits, a few of the best musical stars performed on the
piano, then some round games were played, and the proceedings closed by
the whole school forming a wide circle and singing "Auld Lang Syne" in
the orthodox fashion with crossed hands.

The girls went unwillingly, and would have stayed for another half-hour
if Miss Janet had not insisted upon their departure. Lorraine, putting
on her boots in the cloak-room, decided that her first effort had been
an unqualified success. It had certainly seemed to draw the school
together in a bond of union, so far as she could judge. She could not
resist a purr of satisfaction to Dorothy, whose coat hung next to hers.
Dorothy's congratulations were, however, half-hearted.

"I suppose they enjoyed it," she admitted grudgingly, "though I dare say
some of them felt it a bore to be obliged to stay after four o'clock.
Vivien said you'd got the whole thing up to show off your own
specimens."

The hot colour flamed to Lorraine's cheeks.

"Oh, what a shame! I _didn't_! I hardly showed any specimens myself,
only a few ferns and photos, and one drawing. You _know_ it wasn't for
my ow