"Oh! will you swap with us for rock buns?"
"I should just think not!"
"Dolly Arden has five oranges!"
"Well, we've got bananas!"
After successfully fetching the provisions, having routed a marauding band of juniors who were poking inquisitive fingers into the baskets, the members of Va. returned to the form-room, closed the door, and gave themselves up to festivity. The four girls from the hostel need have had no fear of scarcity, for the others had brought ample to compensate for their deficiency. By general consent all the cakes were pooled, set out on hard-backed exercise books in lieu of plates, and handed round the company. Bess, whose basket contained two thermos flasks, a dozen cheese cakes, and some meringues, was felt to have brought a valuable contribution. It seemed a new experience to be sitting at their desks, drinking tea and eating cakes, instead of doing translation or writing exercises.
"Pity the Snark didn't stop! She doesn't know what she's missing!" remarked Joanna Powers, as she took a meringue.
"Oh, Kafoozalum! We shouldn't have had much fun if the Snark had stayed! Don't bring her back, for goodness' sake, Jo!"
"I wasn't going to! Besides which, she's probably half-way down town at present, having tea in a café. She generally does on Fridays."
"She won't get a better tea than we're having!"
"I'll undertake she won't! This meringue is absolutely topping! I wonder if there's another left."