"She doesn't understand exams.; she never had them at her other school," explained Enid, "so she didn't really know she oughtn't. Did you, Patty?" "Indeed I didn't," declared Patty. "I won't do such a thing another time." "Well, there's a vast difference, at any rate, between wanting to help people and trying to copy their sums," said Winnie. "I hope you all thoroughly understand the matter now," said Enid. "If I were Patty I should want that note to be shown to Miss Rowe," suggested Cissie Gardiner. "It's exactly what I'm going to do with it. Give it me back at once!" cried Enid. "Muriel thoroughly deserves to get into trouble." "No, Enid, please don't; I beg you won't!" pleaded Patty. "Why not?" "Because I don't want you to." "But why? Miss Rowe ought to hear about it." "Oh, it really doesn't matter! Now that all of you know I didn't mean to cheat, I don't care. I hate tell-tales." "I should care," declared Winnie. "It's no use getting Muriel into trouble," said Patty. "It would serve Muriel right," said Enid, indignantly. "Patty, you're a great deal too good-natured." "No, I'm not. Please let me have the note, Enid." "I don't think I will." "But it's mine. It was written to me, remember." Enid relinquished the incriminating piece of paper very reluctantly, and looked on with disfavour while Patty tore it to shreds. "I'm fond of justice," she said, "and Muriel Pearson has got off too easily. Patty, I'm not sure if you're not a little too good for this world! I couldn't have torn that note up myself, and yet on the whole I like you for it. You're one of the nicest girls I've ever known!" And throwing her arm affectionately round Patty's waist, she walked with her along the passage to the classroom. During an interval in the hockey practice that afternoon, Muriel found an opportunity to speak to her cousin. "How stupid you were this morning, Patty!" she said. "What possessed you to lean over my desk and whisper?" "What else could I do, when you'd asked me how to work that sum?" replied Patty. "Why, of course you should have written me a note back, and handed it to me underneath the desk." "But I'm afraid that wouldn't have been fair," objected Patty. "Quite as fair as whispering." "I didn't know either was wrong. You shouldn't have asked me." "Oh, don't begin preaching to me! You contrived to make it very unpleasant for me, at any rate, and I shan't soon forget." "Muriel! You know I never meant----" "I don't care what you meant. Enid Walker has been telling Phyllis Chambers, and Phyllis won't put my name down for the hockey final. It's too bad." "I'm dreadfully sorry." "What's the use of being sorry? You should have managed better. I'm out of the match on Friday, and it's entirely your fault. I wish you'd never come to The Priory at all!" And Muriel walked away with such a sulky expression on her face, that no one at that moment would have called her pretty.