"Of course you heard the rumour that Doreen was leaving?" "Not really? Won't it be funny if she does! What with Betty leaving suddenly at the beginning of the year, and now Doreen--why, there won't be one sixth-former left in the house this term. It's the queerest thing I ever heard of. What'll they do about a head prefect?" "Here's the next stop," said Eileen. "Look out for Salome. We'll ask her if Doreen really has left. She's sure to know." At the next station another addition was made to the party, a tall girl with delightful hair, dark and wavy and bobbed, an active-looking figure and eyebrows that were noticeable for their straightness. A remarkable girl--and she certainly had a remarkable name, unless it was a nickname. Paddy was obliging enough to whisper to the new girl: "That's Salome Hope, the head prefect of my house, Sheerston's; frightfully clever at lessons and a triple colour--hockey, cricket and tennis. There isn't a girl to touch her in the school." The whisper was a very audible one, like all Paddy's whispers. Salome heard it quite plainly, and looked across at Kitty with a laugh. "One of the school celebrities, in fact. Paddy is too, though she refrains from mentioning it. Are you a new girl?" "Yes," answered Eileen. "Kitty Despard, from Australia. They've put her into Carslake's. Isn't it a shame!" "Well, Carslake's is in need of seniors, it seems," said Salome. "Is it true that Doreen has left?" "Yes, unfortunately. It puts the house into an unprecedented position, having to descend to the Upper Fifth for a head prefect." "Quite unprecedented. Fortunately it'll only be for a term. But surely there are only a few seniors of any sort in Carslake's now?" "Let me see. Margaret, Sonia and Bertha in the Lower Fifth; Duane, Hilary and France in the Upper--that's all." "It's a pity Hilary is so delicate, and of course France would be hopeless as head prefect. I suppose it'll be Duane." "Yes. She's been chosen already." "The best of the three," remarked Eileen, "and rather clever in her way, I should think. But a bit of a slacker, isn't she?" "Yes, I'm afraid so. But she's got her hockey colour. That's always a help." "Rather," put in Paddy. "And I remember her at tennis last year. If she had bucked up a bit she might have got her tennis colour as well. She could bat too, in cricket. Only she's so beastly erratic." "That's it," agreed Salome, "you can't depend on her. She's a queer sort." "Anyway, Carslake's can't come down any lower," said Eileen philosophically. "That'll be one comfort to her." Then the conversation turned on other subjects, and a few minutes later the train began to draw up. "Easthampton!" cried Paddy, who thought she had been silent long enough. "Tumble out, everybody. I'll look out for the school truck. All light luggage is here, being only Easter vac.--except Kitty's, of course." Eileen, as a prefect, took the new girl under her wing.