It was understood by the end of the morning that Miss Quincey had sent in her resignation. The news spread from class to class--"Miss Quincey is going"--and was received by pupils and teachers with cries of incredulity. After all, Miss Quincey belonged to St. Sidwell's; she was part and parcel of the place; her blood and bones had been built into its very walls, and her removal was not to be contemplated without dismay. Why, what would a procession be like without Miss Quincey to enliven it? And so, as she went her last round, a score of hands that had never clasped hers in friendship were stretched out over the desks in a wild leave-taking; three girls had tears in their eyes; one, more emotional than the rest, sobbed audibly without shame. The staff were unanimous in their sympathy and regret. Rhoda withdrew hastily from the painful scene. Only the Mad Hatter in her corner made no sign. She seemed to take the news of Miss Quincey's departure with a resigned philosophy. "Well, little Classical Mistress," said Miss Quincey, "we must say good-bye. You know I'm going." The child nodded her small head. "Of course you're going. I might have known it. I did know it all along. You were booked to go." "Why, Laura?" Miss Quincey was mystified and a little hurt. "Because"--a sinister convulsion passed over the ugly little pariah face--"because"--the Mad Hatter had learnt the force of under-statement--"because I _like_ you." At that Miss Quincey broke down. "My dear little girl--I am going because I am too old to stay." "Write to me, dear," she said at the last moment; "let me know how you are getting on." But she never knew. The Mad Hatter did not write. In fact she never wrote anything again, not even verses. She was handed over next term to Miss Quincey's brilliant and efficient successor, who made her work hard, with the result that the Mad Hatter got ill of a brain fever just before the Christmas holidays and was never fit for any more work; and never became Classical Mistress or anything else in the least distinguished. But this is by the way.