Bess, whose basket contained two thermos flasks, a dozen cheese cakes, and some meringues, was felt to have brought a valuable contribution.

It seemed a new experience to be sitting at their desks, drinking tea and eating cakes, instead of doing translation or writing exercises.
"Pity the Snark didn't stop! She doesn't know what she's missing!" remarked Joanna Powers, as she took a meringue.
"Oh, Kafoozalum! We shouldn't have had much fun if the Snark had stayed! Don't bring her back, for goodness' sake, Jo!" "I wasn't going to! Besides which, she's probably half-way down town at present, having tea in a cafe.

She generally does on Fridays." "She won't get a better tea than we're having!" "I'll undertake she won't! This meringue is absolutely topping! I wonder if there's another left." "No, they're gone, every one of them!" "Hard luck!" Though the hour might be early, the girls' appetites were quite equal to the task of finishing the various delicacies in the way of sweet stuff which they had brought with them.

Cakes disappeared like snow in summer, and chocolate boxes, passed round impartially, soon returned empty to their owners.

When everything seemed almost finished, Bess produced another hamper, which she had carried up from the cloak-room, and stowed away under her desk.