It was getting very near the end of the term now, and all the girls were talking eagerly about going home. Before they separated for their vacation, however, there was to be one more of Miss Morley's delightful excursions. Next term would be too hot to do much sightseeing, so those of the pupils who had not yet been shown the wonders of the neighborhood were to have the chance of a visit to the Greek temples at Paestum. It would be a longer expedition even than to Vesuvius, and as many were anxious to take part it was arranged to hire a motor char-a-banc to accommodate about twenty-four girls and several teachers. The lucky ones were of course well drilled beforehand in the history and architecture of the place, and knew how a Greek colony had settled there about the year 600 B.C. and had built the magnificent Doric temples, which, with the sole exception of those at Athens, are the finest existing ruins of the kind. Miss Rodgers had limited the excursion to seniors and Transition, thinking it too long and fatiguing a day for the juniors. All the prefects were going, while the Camellia Buds, with the exception of Esther and Mary, who had been before, were also included in the party. "This is one thing you wouldn't get at any rate in an ordinary English school," said Lorna. "I don't suppose the Brackenfield girls are taking excursions to Greek temples." "There aren't any Greek temples in England for them to go and see, silly," laughed Irene. "Well, Abbeys or Castles or anything ancient." "From Dona's accounts that sort of thing is not in their line. They concentrate on games." "Hockey is all very well, but give me our orange groves and the blue sea." "Ye-es; but I sometimes hanker for a really A1 hockey match!" "Don't you like the Villa Camellia?" "Of course I do. What's the matter, Lorna? I believe you're jealous of Brackenfield!" "No, I'm not, though I'm sure I'm right in fancying you'd rather be there than here." "How absurd you are!" "Am I? All right! Call it absurd if you want. Are you going to sit next to me in the char-a-banc?" Irene looked conscious. "I promised Peachy! But you can sit the other side, you know." "Oh, no, thanks! If you've made arrangements already I'm sure I don't want to interfere with them. I wouldn't spoil sport for worlds." "You are the limit!" "Am I? Indeed! Perhaps you'd rather not have me for a buddy any more?" "For gracious' sake stop talking nonsense! You're the weirdest girl I've ever met," snapped Irene. Then to avoid an open quarrel she walked away, leaving her chum in the depths of misery. Lorna knew her own temper was at fault, but she was in a touchy mood and laid the blame on fate. "If I had a nice home like other girls, and had been going there for ripping holidays, and had brothers and cousins to write to me I'd be different," she excused herself, quite forgetting that, however much we may be handicapped, the molding of our character is after all in our own hands.