"I see by your anxiety to hear me that you are well aware I speak with authority and not as the scribes"—loud cheers—"or perhaps I should say, the juniors—but on this occasion I'm not going to say much. I will convince the hockey club of my earnestness by the number of goals I shall score on its behalf to-morrow. When they see shots falling about the St. Mary's goalkeeper like—like leaves in autumn——"
Everybody, amid laughter, realized that it was apparently the same old Cato talking and not some unfamiliar heroine of fiction. The rest of the speech was never heard, for someone struck up "For she's a jolly good fellow," and they continued it till prep bell put an end to the din.
Smiles and kindly words were seen everywhere in Carslake's that evening. Kitty and Duane were actually going in to supper arm-in-arm; France and Margaret beamed with delight at everybody. The girls in Dormitory A were squabbling as to who should fetch their head prefect's hot water, but Duane settled the matter by asking Erica if she wouldn't mind doing it, and as Erica took the jug, a happier look on her face than there had been for many a week, no one said an ungenerous word or gave her an unkind look.
When Miss Carslake came round to switch off the lights there was a very hearty "Good night" in response to hers, and the house mistress went on her way happily conscious that one could say of her house at last, "All's well."
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