jumped with her. It was curious to watch that which but a moment before had been one absorbed, collective personality suddenly disintegrating into Lotties and Maries and Sylvias, shy, curious, impish or indifferent, after their kind. Miss Vigers's presence intimidated: each peeping personality retired, snail-like, into its schoolgirl shell. With a curious yet distinct consciousness of guilt, they edged away from the two women, huddling sheepishly together, watching and waiting, inimical to the disturber of their enjoyment, but distinctly doubtful as to whether "Daffy," in the encounter that they knew quite well was imminent, would be able to hold her own. But Miss Durand was self-possessed. She looked down at Miss Vigers from her high seat and gave a natural little laugh. "Oh, Miss Vigers! How you startled me!" "I'm sorry. I have been endeavouring to attract your attention for some moments. Are you aware of the time?" Alwynne glanced at the clock. The hands stood at an impossible hour. "There!" she remarked penitently, "it's stopped again!" She smiled at the class, all ears and interest. "One of you children will just have to remind me. Helen? No, you do the chalks already. Millicent!" She singled out a dreamy child, who was taking surreptitious advantage of the interruption to pore over the pictures that had slid from the desk to the floor of the rostrum.[14] [14] "Milly! Your head's a sieve too! Will you undertake to remind me? Each time I have to be reminded—in goes a penny to the mission—and each time you forget to remind me, you do the same. It'll do us both good! And if we both forget—the rest of the class must pull us up." The little girl nodded, serious and important. Alwynne turned to Henrietta. "Excuse me, Miss Vigers, were you wanting to speak to me? I'm afraid we're in rather a muddle. Children—pick up those pictures: at least—Helen and Milly! Go back to your desks, the rest of you." And then, to Henrietta again, "I suppose the gong will go in a minute?" She was being
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