She had been so accustomed to work in a room by herself at Abbey Close that she found the presence of others highly distracting.

Though silence was enforced, the girls fluttered the leaves of their books, scratched with their pens, or even murmured dates under their breath, all of which sounds were most irritating.

Winona begged to be allowed to take her books to her cubicle, but Miss Kelly would not hear of it.
[Illustration: "TO SEE A REAL LIVE AIRMAN AT SUCH CLOSE QUARTERS WAS NOT AN ORDINARY EXPERIENCE"] "I cannot make an exception for one," she replied, "and it would be impossible to allow girls to work as they liked in the dormitories.
There would be more talking than preparation! You'll stay here with the others, and I can see for myself what you're doing." The hint that Miss Kelly suspected her of some ulterior motive for wishing to study upstairs enraged Winona, but she was obliged to submit, and to sit, close under the mistress' eye, at the long table, in company with her fellow-boarders.

Her work suffered in consequence, and Miss Goodson's sarcasms descended on her head.

Miss Goodson was not so patient a teacher as Miss Huntley, and Winona tried her temper at times.
Winona was subject to curious fits of stupidity.