"I'll try, Miss Tatham."
Secretly she was appalled at the amount expected from her. All her own easiest and most favourite classes had been knocked off to make time for her teaching, but the difficult lessons which needed most preparation were retained. She was to act as a kind of general assistant in three forms, which were managed by two mistresses, Miss Edwards and Miss Harrison. Her first experience was to be with IIb. She encountered some of its short-skirted members skirmishing round the playground. They rushed up to her hilariously.
"Hello! Lesbia!" they greeted her. "Is it true you're going to be a sort of teacher this term?"
"I believe so," said Lesbia, trying to keep her dignity.
"Oh, what sport!"
"A real stunt!"
"We shan't be a bit frightened of you!"
"You're so jolly, you couldn't be cross!"
"Couldn't I? Just you wait and see. You'll have to behave yourselves, I can tell you, when I'm teaching, or I'll jolly well want to know the reason why!"
The juniors exploded.