After all, it was better to be thought idle than stupid.

But it was humiliating to feel that she was counted among the slackers of the Form, while Garnet was already winning laurels.

The contrast between the two scholarship holders could not fail to be noticed.
Miss Huntley (privately known to the Form as "Bunty") was a clever, but rather remorseless teacher.

She had been on the staff since the opening of the school two years before, and she was determined at all costs to maintain the high standard inaugurated at its foundation.

She was herself the product of High School education, and knew to the last scruple how much to require from girls in V.a.To those who appeared to be really trying their best she was ready to give intelligent help, but she had no mercy for slackers.