"The owner lives in London, I believe, and doesn't allow people to go over it," Miss Conyngham said. "It isn't supposed to be very safe now, for scrambling about in. But I will try to find out if he would have any objections to my taking a party of you girls, if you are so very keen." "I think it would do that nervous chap good to see some company," urged Joey. "You can't think what his jumpiness was like, Miss Conyngham." Miss Conyngham was as usual extremely busy, and could not wait to enter into the question. "Which companion, Jocelyn?" "_Could_ I have two?" asked Joey, greatly daring. Miss Conyngham considered. "I don't see any objection, if you will all behave very steadily. Remember the credit of Redlands is in your hands. Whom do you want?" "Please, Gabrielle and Noreen." Miss Conyngham smiled. "Very well. Are you three friends?" Joey had become a good deal more certain since Cousin Greta asked that question. "Rather, Miss Conyngham." "I am glad to hear that. Gabrielle is a very good sort of friend to have, Jocelyn." "And Noreen is a frightfully exciting one," Joey explained--and then remembered in time it would be better not to explain why. She discovered that she had gone up in the opinion of the Lower School now that Miss Conyngham had actually picked her out to meet Miss Craigie. The mathematical mistress had many adorers, it appeared--and meeting trains could only be done by very special permission. Ingrid Latimer herself accosted Joey in the mid-morning interval, demanding what she meant by going. "I suppose Miss Conyngham thought I should like it," Joey said, slightly flustered by the question from one so great as the Senior Prefect. "Rubbish! As though the Head would stop to think about that," Ingrid answered crushingly. "Think again, Kid. Is she an aunt of yours by any chance?" "No--but we both live in Scotland, you see," Joey suggested. "The cheek of the babe--as though Scotland were a private belonging of those two," burst in another huge Sixth Former, and Ingrid suddenly put both arms round Joey and lifted her on to a desk. "Now there you stay, until you have supplied a really adequate reason why you--merely an uppish new kid--should be granted the glorious privilege of meeting our Miss Craigie." Joey considered. "Want the real reason?" "Yes, and hurry up with it." Joey grinned. "Then go on wanting it!" The bell for Third Lesson rang violently. "Oh, get off that desk and go to your classroom," ordered Ingrid. "You are the purple limit in assertiveness. _I_ don't know why I put up with it." "P'r'aps because you can't help it," suggested Joey, and then she scuttled past Ingrid at her best speed, and joined a gasping Noreen at the door. "Are you whole and entire?" Noreen demanded. "My dear Joey, Ingrid will strew the floor with your remains if you don't look out. _I'd_ never dare speak to her like that; I'd sooner cheek Miss Conyngham."