The Story of Louie

was the single non-fee-paying student in the place. Her father was a bookseller in Westbourne Grove, and she had kept his books for him before coming to Chesson's. She had picked up her knowledge of b

re than most of them, and now only remained at the college because Miss Harriet had held out hopes for her of a place on the staff. She was easily head of all the classes of which she was a member, but was hopelessly incapable of making her personality felt. Add to all this that she was avid of popularity, and that her self-consciousness took the form of making h

d almost at the door of Miss Harriet's room as she had come out again.

a little wistfully, a little dully; "the carr

ting a confidence in return. "I'm glad you're in my posse," she had concluded,

e college, and each was told off each day to put itself under the direction of one or other of the four gardeners, to pot, "prick out," water or whatever the task might be. The gardener at present in charge of Louie's posse was a sullen young Apollo called Priddy, whose face and nec

or to get over a youthful love-affair-quite fitted her case. And then there were those ridiculous Rules. She supposed that if she stayed she would be on the same footing as the juniors, and she hardly thought she could submit to that. Not that the Rules did not se

om her mother and now made inveterate by her upbringing, was invariably

a wonder,

he made up her mind to forfeit her fees and leave i

ssible. But education or output required that this digging should be done, and accordingly the twelve girls had digged for the whole morning, and in the afternoon had varied the labour by carrying heavy pots from House No. 6 to House No. 10-a distance of perhaps sixty yards. The next morning twelve girls (or rather eleven,

n the shadows cast by a couple of candles on the floor; but there were isolated boxes enough to make seats for the seven or eight girls already assembled there. They had slippers on their naked feet and single garments on their aching bodies; and on one of Louie's own boxes Burnett Major was peering at

claiming shrilly as Louie opened the door. "Those lazy louts of gard

new it; but "Of course they ar

not going to s

I'm n

r m

pins I'd te

nly because, all having spoken at o

abomin

gust

m'em

you vote, Causton?" th

out?" Lo

tly place-and setting us to dig the f

tongue wa

ime we want an ext

two guineas a

hat aren't good enough for the mar

pause fo

d'-you-call-

he sat stiffly dow

nything you like; I

ey bega

the posse-she o

voice broke in

scholarship. But I should just be told that if I didn't like

but I will not be told

idd

there came from the bat

rning-as the su-u

t got to be moved-he

s tyr

grading and packing tomatoes las

bruised on

n fit for

his establishment o

mentary pa

l sign a p

'you-call-it-a

ling them

bath,

ned with her towel, smelling of somebody else's scented soap and radiating

e something loose on! Crocks! My cocoa, Major, and who said Priddy just now? 'Students do not fall in love with

f pink cashmere dressing-gown, she sank to the

e girls who "wouldn't stand it" would be standing it exactly the same on the morrow. Well, on the morrow she herself would be off. Her boxes were only half unpacked; half-an-hour would put the other things back again. Already sh

e demanded; "why couldn't I go to Rainha

Burnett Minor murmu

bagged my boots and I was fiv

he pas mal--

affectay feele,"

the gardeners at home looking

for that matter-she's on

lewom

mato

all she i

hing

bathroom, and Earle reappeared. Her announcement that t

enough h

y a drop

iou

e into my cubicle and r

uint out of the

Her lights are o

cold bath, to please L

courtyard yew-the window from which watch was kept to see when Miss Harriet and Mrs. L

she thought. It

the window, spoke to her. Evidently Richenda did n

ought to ask me t

e tu

you to

Harriet-me, the onl

disdainfully. "Oh, they won

to refuse things--" Ear

f Miss Harriet, but of Mrs. Lovenant-Smith herself, stood looking in. The hubbub ceased as the boiling of a kettle ceases when cold water is poured in. Several of the conspirators rose to their feet; Burnett Mino

dressing-gowns had vanish

of this?" Mrs. Lovena

to see on whom to fa

e dramatic centre of some Rembrandtesque composition to which all else was merely contributory. The Scholarship g

assed Mrs. Lovenant-Smith's l

ting for our ba

e to Louie; there is expediency even in Authority; but the challenge,

time it is?" she

Mrs. Lovenant-Smith's que

my cubicle. I could tell

w fit to ignore. She drew

dents are not out of bed at ten minutes past el

d. After all, it was roug

ment ago to send us to bed,"

aded off, "you, Miss Causton, as a new student, are perhaps not yet familiar with the Rules.

er. She herself retired with dignity. Students do not linger in the box

's back than the pent-up general breath escaped again in

mebody breathed.

't s

t stunnin

e caught i

it in h

uston, you'll

speak to you

cut

fused, so much did t

alking about? That's nothing, especially as I

room. Had Rebellion found its leade

avi

fter ten o'clock now, you m

oh, I

t was only after half-a-minute that Burnett Minor, who ha

is," said Louie, enormously amused at the thought.

ave," another

ee what she sa

be too do

e first

t hardening came into Louie's grey eyes. Her laug

t I mean," she s

at?

l st

ather would have descri