Monica wriggled uneasily.
"No, Miss Julian," she confessed, truthfully.
"Why not?"
"Must I tell you?" asked Monica in a low voice, but this time she lifted her eyes frankly to Miss Julian's face. "I will, if you insist, but I would rather not. It is nothing disgraceful," she added hurriedly, "and I promise that I will try to be nearer the top than the bottom next term."
Miss Julian hesitated a moment. She felt sure that Monica was speaking the truth when she denied any discreditable intentions, and from the very clear idea she had now formed of Monica's character, she shrewdly guessed at some queer quixotic motive underlying her act. Quickly she made up her mind.
"No, you need not tell me this time," she replied. "I am going to take your word for it when you say there was nothing discreditable about it. But I shall expect you to keep your promise and do better next term. Now run along and find your form companions. I am sure that you will soon find out that they are ready to be friends, if you are."
So Monica left the Principal's study and made her way towards her own room with a light step that now and again degenerated into a little dancing skip, and with the idea firmly rooted in her mind, and growing stronger every minute, that she was going to find plenty of happiness in her future life at St. Etheldreda's.
CHAPTER XVI
NAT MAKES A DISCOVERY
Monica was seated in her chair, absorbed in her favourite occupation of reading, when Nat entered. Nat had intended to say a few well-chosen words expressing her gratitude and thanks, but unfortunately emotion with Nat was generally accompanied by inarticulation, and all she achieved was a casual "Hello!"