Cynthia had unclasped her treasure, and handed it with an assumed nonchalance for Raymonde's inspection. On the gold band was engraved: "To Cynthia Greene, a token of esteem from her schoolfellows." "Highly gratifying!" gurgled Raymonde. "It was sweet of them, wasn't it? Well, I tried to do my best for them, and I'll do my best for this school too when I get the chance. I'm in no hurry. I'm content to wait, and let the girls come round." "Quite the best plan. In the meantime, if there are any little tips I can give you, come to me." "Thanks awfully! I will. I'd have done the same by you if you'd been a new girl at The Poplars." Raymonde retired bubbling over with suppressed mirth. "That girl's the limit!" she reported to her confederates. "For calm self-complacency I've never seen anybody to equal her. The idea of imagining _me_ as a new girl at her wretched pettifogging old school! Oh, it's too precious! She'd patronize the Queen herself! The Poplars must be executing a war-dance for joy to have got rid of her. Probably they'd have subscribed for more than a bracelet to pass her on elsewhere!" "So she's waiting patiently till she wins the school," hinnied Aveline. "Poor angel! Did you notice her wings sprouting, or a halo glowing round her head?" "I think we can put her up to a few tips," chuckled Ardiune. "It would only be kind," gushed Raymonde. "The sort of thing she must have done herself hundreds of times to many a poor neglected new girl at The Poplars. The bread she cast upon the waters shall be returned to her." "With butter on it!" added Aveline. "She can swallow any amount of butter," observed Raymonde. "She evidently likes it laid on thick. Suggestions invited, please, for kind and disinterested advice to be administered to her." "Professor Marshall comes to-morrow," volunteered Aveline. "The very thing! Ave, you old sport, you've given me an idea! Now just prepare your minds for a pretty and touching little scene at the beginning of the mediaeval arts lecture. No, I shan't tell you what it is beforehand. It'll be something for you to look forward to!"