"No—but we both live in Scotland, you see," Joey suggested.
"The cheek of the babe—as though Scotland were a private belonging of those two," burst in another huge Sixth Former, and Ingrid suddenly put both arms round Joey and lifted her on to a desk. "Now there you stay, until you have supplied a really adequate reason why you—merely an uppish new kid—should be granted the glorious privilege of meeting our Miss Craigie."
Joey considered. "Want the real reason?"
"Yes, and hurry up with it."
Joey grinned. "Then go on wanting it!"
The bell for Third Lesson rang violently.
"Oh, get off that desk and go to your classroom," ordered Ingrid. "You are the purple limit in assertiveness. I don't know why I put up with it."
"P'r'aps because you can't help it," suggested Joey, and then she scuttled past Ingrid at her best speed, and joined a gasping Noreen at the door.
"Are you whole and entire?" Noreen demanded. "My dear Joey, Ingrid will strew the floor with your remains if you don't look out. I'd never dare speak to her like that; I'd sooner cheek Miss Conyngham."
"I don't mind Ingrid," Joey boasted, vain-gloriously. "It's rather sport to see what she'll say next."