Prayers came to an end; breakfast came to an end. The Vivians passed a very brisk examination with some credit. As Miss Symes had predicted, Betty was put into her special form, in which form Susie Rushworth and Fanny Crawford also had their places. The younger Vivians were allowed to remain in the upper school, but were in much lower forms. Betty took to her work as happily (to use a well-known expression) as a duck takes to water. Her eyes were bright with intelligence while she listened to Miss Symes, who could teach so charmingly and could impart knowledge in such an attractive way. In the middle of the morning there was the usual brief period when the girls might go out and amuse themselves for a short time. Betty wanted to find her sisters; but before she could attempt to seek for them she felt a hand laid on her arm, and, glancing round, saw that Fanny Crawford was by her side. "Betty," said Fanny, "I want to speak to you, and at once. We have only a very few minutes; will you, please, listen?" "Is it really important?" asked Betty. "For, if it is not, I do want to say something to Sylvia. She forgot to give Dickie his raw meat this morning." "Oh, aren't you just hopeless!" exclaimed Fanny. "You think of that terrible spider when--when----Oh, I don't know what to make of you!" "And I don't know what to make of you, Fanny!" retorted Betty. "What are you excited about? What is the matter?" "Listen!--do listen!" said Fanny. "Well, I am listening; but you really must be quick in getting out whatever's troubling you." "You have heard of the Specialities, haven't you?" said Fanny. "Good gracious, no!" exclaimed Betty. "The Specialities--what are they?" "There is nothing _what_ about them. They are people--girls; they are not things." "Oh, girls! What a funny name to give girls! I haven't heard of them, Fanny." "You won't be long at Haddo Court without hearing a great deal about them," remarked Fanny. "I am one, and so is Susie Rushworth, and so are the Bertrams, and so is that handsome girl Margaret Grant. You must have noticed her; she is so dark and tall and stately. And so, also, is dear little Olive Repton----" "And so is--and so is--and so is--" laughed Betty, putting on her most quizzical manner. "You must listen to me. The Specialities--oh, they're not like any other girls in the school, and it's the greatest honor in the world to be asked to belong to them. Betty, it's this way. Margaret Grant is the sort of captain of the club--I don't know how to express it exactly; but she is our head, our chief--and she has taken a fancy to you; and last night we had a meeting in my bedroom----" "Oh, that was what the row was about!" exclaimed Betty. "If we hadn't been hearty sleepers and girls straight from the Scotch moors, you would have given us a very bad night." "Never mind about that. Margaret Grant proposed last night that you should be asked to join." "_I_ asked to join?"