Six girls, waiting outside the door to hear the result of the negotiations, waved signals of success to others farther down the corridor, and, in an almost incredibly short space of time, the happy news had spread to the remotest corners of the school. "But how are we hostelites going to manage our share?" asked Ingred anxiously. "Don't you worry about that," Jess and Francie assured her. "Ten girls in our form have promised to bring thermos flasks, and if we pool to tea there'll be heaps to go round, and the same with buns and cakes. We'll each bring a little extra to make enough. The hostel will very likely lend you each a cup if you ask for it. That's all you'll need!" "Right-o! We'll cast ourselves on the charity of the form!" agreed Ingred. CHAPTER V The Fifth-form Fete By a general indulgence issued from head-quarters, the dismissal bell rang at 3:45 the next Friday afternoon, instead of, as usual, at four o'clock. The mistresses entered up the marks, put away their books, said "Good afternoon, girls!" and made their exit, leaving the building for once in the sole possession of the pupils. Miss Strong, indeed, who disapproved of the whole business, took the precaution of locking her desk before her departure, a proceeding which provoked indignant sniffs from the witnesses; but, sublimely indifferent to public opinion, she put the key in her pocket, and stalked from the room. The girls gave her a few moments' grace to get out of earshot, then broke into a babble of conversation. "Which are we having first, the election or the tea?" "Oh, the tea!" "No, no! Business first and pleasure afterwards." "I can't vote till I've had some tea." "It's too early!" "No, it isn't! We're most of us ready for it." "Look here!" suggested Ingred. "Let's settle it this way. Have tea first, then the election, and then some fun afterwards. Don't you think that would sandwich things best?" "True, O Queen! I don't mind what happens afterwards, so long as I get a bun quick!" "Let's fetch the prog," agreed Linda Slater, leading the way towards the cloak-room where the baskets had been stored. The giggling procession met emissaries from other forms, bent on a like errand, and exchanged a brisk banter as they passed on the stairs. "We've got jam tartlets!" "Not as nice as our cheese cakes!" "Nellie's brought a whole pound of macaroons!" "Oh! will you swap with us for rock buns?" "I should just think not!" "Dolly Arden has five oranges!" "Well, we've got bananas!"