“And because, here at St. Benedick’s, we ‘study to be quiet,’ you will not be the less fitted, I think, when you leave for the world outside, if you go out remembering that in quietness and in confidence is your greatest strength. No, all I have to say to you at the opening of this term can be summed up again, I think, in our motto: Festina lente (Hasten slowly); for nothing in life is worth having that can be gained by snatching. Our motto means much, and it may grow to mean more and more through life to each one of you if you will remember it. Hasten slowly; and ‘Patience, then, will have her perfect work.’”
CHAPTER IV
IN THE BIG OAK HALL
“Attention! Patrols, form lines! Right turn! Lead out!”
Suddenly, at the close of the little speech, the orders had come. Just as Betty was wondering why it was that Miss Carey’s words—even although she could understand very little of their meaning—had yet left a queer restful sort of feeling in her excited mind, the headmistress had paused, her tone had changed, and the orders had been uttered in quiet but clear and decisive tones.
And in response every girl in the room had drawn herself up. Then, in amazement, Betty had watched as four of the prefects had stood out from the rest, and as the other girls, each evidently understanding the meaning of the orders, had quietly taken a place in one of the four lines. Betty, following Geraldine’s movements with her eyes, had noticed that her late companion now stood quietly at the end of a row of juniors which seemed to be under the charge of Sybil, the head girl. Six other juniors stood there with her, one of whom Betty recognized as Mona, though the rest were as yet unknown. While she was wondering whether she, too, had a place in the ranks, the second order had come from the lips of the headmistress, and quietly, in orderly fashion, the four prefects had led their patrols from the room.
On the floor of the big Oak Hall Betty found herself alone; but as she turned, wondering whether to follow the rest, the new girl found the headmistress at her side.
“You are Betty Carlyle, my dear?”
