"Oh, rot!" protested Nat with scarlet cheeks.
"No, there's no Head Girl like ours," agreed Glenda, "and I think you're right about Nat, too. Well, I must begin to see about prep, or there'll be wigs on the green tomorrow." She hurried off and the rest of the girls, also with thoughts of the prep that was waiting, reluctantly dispersed.
Allison, however, had not quite completed her mission. On leaving the common room she set out in quest of the missing Monica and speedily ran her to earth in her cubicle.
"Just the person I wanted to see," she declared, as Monica looked up, startled, when she appeared in the doorway. "What made you run away in the middle of my story? Weren't you interested in Alice?"
"I——" stammered Monica, and stopped.
"Well, never mind now," said Allison cheerfully. "I finished the story without you, as it happened. What I've come to tell you now is that Prinny wants to see you in her room. Nothing dreadful," as Monica looked rather apprehensive, "only something she intended to ask you about before, but forgot."
"Am I to go now?"
"Yes. Run along." Allison's smile was both kind and cheery, and Monica went off feeling reassured. When she knocked at the Principal's door and went inside, Miss Julian was still looking as kind as she had done during Monica's last interview with her in the sick-room.
"Allison said you wished to see me." Monica explained her appearance.
"Yes. Sit down, Monica. It is nothing to do with what we were talking about before, but I want you to answer me just as frankly. It is about your exams. How came you to have such a low position? I have had some really good reports about your work and intelligence from some of the mistresses and I know you are capable of doing much better. You did not do your best, did you, Monica?"