She had hardly spoken to any one outside her own form, and knew the names of comparatively few of her two hundred and five schoolfellows.

Without Garnet she would have been quite at a loss how to steer her course in this great ocean of school life; she thankfully accepted her friend as pilot, and for the present was content to follow her lead.

The two girls presented themselves in the gymnasium in good time, and took their seats among the other members of V.a.The front bench was occupied by a row of ten-year-olds who had come up this term from the Preparatory, and who sat squeezing each others' arms, highly impressed with the importance of their remove.

Behind them Form II., a giggling crew rather more _au fait_ with the ways of the school, effervesced occasionally into excited squeals, and were instantly suppressed by a prefect.

The Third and Fourth, which comprised the bulk of the girls from twelve to fifteen, occupied the middle of the hall, a lively, self-confident and rather obstreperous set, all at that awkward age which is anxious to claim privileges, but not particularly ready to submit to the authorized code.