The Youngest Girl in the Fifth: A School StoryBrazil, Angela
General
The Youngest Girl in the Fifth: A School Story
Brazil, Angela
Schools -- Fiction
"Well, my little dears, it's extremely simple, but a work of genius
all the same. Genius always is simple, I believe! Behold my mapping
book with its virgin page. Behold also this spotless piece of blotting
paper. I turn it over, and hey, presto! a transformation. Here's my
map, nicely done in pencil, with all the names marked. Nothing to do
but copy it, you see. At the least approach of danger I turn it with
its most innocent side up."
The girls sniggered their admiration. Gwen could not approve, but she
did not protest. It was not her business to preach, so she told
herself. As long as she did her own work honestly, she could not begin
her career in the Fifth by assuming the very character she had just
denied. Minna and Annie, inspired by Netta's brilliant idea, were
copying the map on to pieces of blotting paper as fast as they could.
"It wouldn't be a bad plan to trace it the wrong way, and then rub it
off like a transfer," suggested Millicent.
"Just a little too clever, most astute one! Grinnie comes round to
look, and she'd think you'd got on too quickly, and want to know the
reason why. You're bright, Millicent Cooper, but you're not
far-seeing."
"You'll get caught yourself some time," said Millicent.
"True, O Queen! But I'll have somewhat in the shape of a run first,"
laughed Netta.
Gwen felt rather indignant as she began her map drawing. She hated
cheating, and it seemed very unjust that Netta and the others should
win credit for what was not fairly their own work.
"Winnie's not half sharp enough," she thought. "If it were Beatrice,
now, there isn't a girl in the room would dare to try any tricks."
Possibly even Winnie had her suspicions. She kept a watchful eye on
the Form, and made an occasional tour round the desks. Netta was
extremely cautious, but all the same her attention to her blotting
paper was rather conspicuous.
"Netta Goodwin, hand me your mapping book!"
Netta started in some confusion at the abrupt order, and dropped both
mapbook and blotting paper on to the floor. Gwen, equally startled,
moved her hand hastily and sent her book spinning after the other. It
was a complete accident, but one by which Netta did not hesitate to
profit. Under the shelter of the desk she rapidly substituted Gwen's
piece of blotting paper for her own, then passed up the book with an
air of sangfroid truly heroic in the eyes of Annie, Minna, and
Millicent. Miss Gascoyne examined the pages carefully, but finding
nothing incriminating, supposed she had been mistaken. Netta might be
the chief sinner of the Form, certainly, but she was not invariably at
fault.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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