Signs of interest manifested themselves on the faces of her companions. Raymonde's ideas were always worth listening to. Aveline stopped yawning, Morvyth desisted from kicking her geography book round the floor, and Fauvette snapped the clasp of her bracelet, and sat bolt upright. "We're hanging upon your words, if you'll condescend to explain, O Queen!" she vouchsafed. Raymonde bowed, with heels together and hands back, like the star of a pierrot troupe. "Don't mensh! Glad to do my bit!" she replied. "Well, my notion's this. It's the Bumble's birthday on Friday!" "As if every girl in the school didn't know that!" chafed Ardiune impatiently. "Haven't we all given our shillings towards her present ages ago? Really, Ray, what more chestnuts are you going to bring forth?" "Don't be in such a hurry, my good child! I haven't finished yet. I should have thought you could have trusted your grannie by this time. My remark, though no doubt stale, was only one of those preliminary announcements with which a chairman always has to begin--like 'Glad to see so many bright young faces collected here', or 'Gratified to be allowed the pleasure of saying a few words to you'. But don't look so scared, I'm not going to prose on like a real chairman at a prize-giving; I'm going to get to the point quick. Being the Bumble's birthday--if you grin, Ardiune Coleman-Smith, I'll pinch you!--Being, as I have observed, the Bumble's birthday, it seems only right and fit and proper that the other bees in the hive should buzz in sympathy, and take a holiday, and go and sip nectar. Let us copy Nature's methods!" "Copy Nature, by all means," sneered Ardiune, "only don't suggest that bumble-bees live in hives, or you'll be a little out of it!" "Oh, you're so literal! It's only for the sake of the metaphor. Mayn't I talk about 'the busy bee' and 'the shining hour'?" "For pity's sake, don't get flowery!" snapped Morvyth. "'How doth the little busy bee Delight to bark and bite; She gathers honey all the day, And eats it up at night!'" misquoted Aveline with a giggle. "Stop frivolling, and let me get to my point!" commanded Raymonde. "For the third time, let me remind you that it is the Bumble's birthday on Friday, and that it's only decent and seemly and becoming that the school should do something to celebrate so joyous an occasion." "Stop a minute!" interrupted Katherine. "Are we rejoicing that she came into this world to gladden us, or are we counting one more year off towards the time when we'll have done with her? I'm not quite clear which." [Illustration: "'GRACIOUS, GIRL! TURN OFF THE WATERWORKS!'"]