"It will be like the last day and setting off for the seaside both together," declared Lindsay, waltzing round the seat in the exuberance of her spirits.
"Not quite, because we shall have lessons when we get there," corrected Nora.
"Well, at any rate it'll be ever so much nicer than being in London."
"Hurrah for the old Manor!" shouted Marjorie Butler, clapping her hands.
Miss Russell had indeed been much alarmed by the sanitary inspector's report. She was determined to make the change without delay, and hurried on the preparation as speedily as possible.
Boxes were brought down from the attic, and teachers and monitresses were kept busy superintending the packing of clothes, linen, schoolbooks, and numberless other articles. For the few days that remained work was relaxed, the headmistress's chief anxiety seeming to be the health of the girls, and her one object to take them away before any sign of illness should break out amongst them.
"Miss Russell looked so worried when I told her my head ached," said Nora Proctor. "She asked every one of us afterwards if we had sore throats."
"I was silly enough to say I thought mine felt a little scrapy," said Lindsay ruefully. "I soon wished I hadn't, because she gave me a horribly nasty disinfectant lozenge, and told me to suck it slowly until I'd finished it. Ugh! I can taste it yet!"
"I'm absolutely sick of the smell of carbolic. There's a jar full in every room," said Cicely.
"Never mind! You'll only have to endure it for one day more. We're actually off to-morrow."