It was the first time she had ever put it to the test.

If she could only stay on another year or two-- And now at the very end of the midsummer term it really looked as if St.
Sidwell's was anxious to keep her.

Everybody was curiously kind; the staff cast friendly glances on her as she sat in her corner; Rhoda was almost passionate in her tenderness.

Even Miss Cursiter seemed softened.
She had left off saying "Stand back, Miss Quincey, if you please"; and Miss Quincey began to wonder what it all meant.
She was soon to know.
One night, the last of the term, the Classical Mistress was closeted with the Head.

Rhoda, elbow-deep in examination papers, had been critically considering seventy variously ingenious renderings of a certain chorus, when the sudden rapping of a pen on the table roused her from her labours.
"You must see for yourself, Rhoda, how we are placed.