That week was decidedly a trying one for all those in authority. Never had the Fifth prepared their work in such a careless, slovenly manner; never had the Third and Fourth been more restless and inattentive and brimming over with mischief. Even the select little band of Sixth-formers, never noted for over-working themselves, seemed to have caught some of the prevailing atmosphere of restlessness. Miss Bennett, who was not very interested in the girls, beyond seeing that they worked well and adhered rigidly to the school rules, put it down to the incessantly wet weather. Miss Cazalet, who took more interest in the girls' pursuits outside lesson hours than any of the other mistresses, was still in bed.
Punishments were more numerous that week than usual. The prefects found it difficult to maintain their dignity and authority in the face of the smiles and giggles of the younger girls; by the end of the week tempers were becoming frayed, especially when, at the prefects' weekly meeting, the Principal observed that some of the girls in the school seemed to have got a little out of hand that week and gently suggested that the prefects should use every effort to get things running more smoothly. Madge was greatly tempted to explain the reason for all the disturbance, but refrained; for during recent years it had been the prefects' unwritten law never to take their troubles to the Principal unless they had failed entirely to master them themselves. When Miss Julian had dismissed the meeting, they held a gathering of their own in the study shared by Madge and Deirdre.
"A silly sort of mess we're in," the usually placid-tempered Deirdre declared disgustedly. "This is Friday and the match is next Wednesday, and still we can only muster a couple of sticks between the lot of us. Not only that, but those juniors are getting a good deal too big for their boots—positively cheeky this last week."
"If we give in to them now," said Madge tragically, "our prestige is gone for ever."
"All for nothing too," said Pam, still more amused than annoyed. "I've just had a letter by the afternoon post, cancelling the netball match. Our opponents can't play next Wednesday after all, and their secretary suggests another date—the following Saturday or Wednesday."
At this point in the discussion there came a knock at the door and in walked Allison.
"I've left the swotting for a bit," she explained with her cheerful smile. "I heard Prinny had given you a wigging at the prefects' meeting, so I simply had to come along and see if I could be of any use. Otherwise, it's sheer farce calling myself the Head Girl."
"We didn't want to disturb you, knowing how busy you are with your scholarship work," said Madge ruefully. "You know we promised you at the beginning of the term we would take everything off your shoulders."
"Yes, but when things aren't going very smoothly I couldn't stand outside, not for fifty scholarships," Allison declared with energy. She perched on the edge of the table. "What's the trouble? Haven't those missing sticks turned up yet?"
"No," replied Madge and explained the recent developments, showing Allison with rather a sheepish air the document sent by the "one who noes."