She had, indeed, taken up the exact role that Quenrede had played years ago, before the war, and which Ingred would have followed had Rotherwood and a car still been in the Saxons' possession. In spite of several overtures from Bess, Ingred had thrust away all idea of friendship, and had steadily refused any invitations to her old home. The reports which the girls brought back of the renewed glories of Rotherwood made her feel like a disinherited princess. She considered it rough luck that her supplanter should be at the same school and in the same form as herself, and decided that Bess had ousted her from both house and favor. It made it only the more aggravating that Bess's musical talent was quite equal, if not superior, to her own. Bess had improved immensely on the violin, and her performance at the end-of-term recital had received quite a little ovation. When the question of the walking tour was broached, Bess, owing to home engagements, had at first reluctantly refused, then had managed to rearrange her holidays and had joined the party after all. To Ingred her presence utterly marred the enjoyment. It was extremely unreasonable of Ingred, for Bess was most unassuming and really very long-suffering. She put up with snubs that would have made most girls retaliate indignantly. Nobody likes to be sat upon too hard, however, and even the proverbial worm will turn at last. As the walking party, much urged by Miss Strong straggled along towards Ryton-on-the-Heath, Bess made a lightning dive up a bank and came back with a blue flower plainly of the _labiate_ species. "Bugle!" she remarked with satisfaction. "Bugle?" echoed Ingred scornfully. "Shows how much you know about botany! That's self-heal!" "Oh no; it's certainly bugle." "I tell you it's self-heal. I found some at Lynstones last August and looked it up in the flower-book." "Very likely you did, but that doesn't prove that this is self-heal." "It does, for anybody with a pair of eyes. I've been studying botany." "And so have I!" "You may think you know everything, Bess Haselford, but you don't know this." [Illustration: "YOU MAY THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING, BESS HASELFORD, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW THIS!"] "I didn't say I knew everything; but I'm certain this is bugle all the same, and I stick to it!" Bess's usually sweet voice had an obstinate note in it for once. She seemed determined to defend her botanical trenches. "Go it--hammer and tongs!" laughed Kitty. "I'll back the winner!" "And I'll take the case into court," said Linda, snatching the flower from her schoolfellow's hand and running on to show it to Miss Strong, who was an authority on the subject. The mistress paused to let the others overtake her.