The clock struck six, the girl in the next cubicle murmured sleepily, "Such a noise! Something rustling!" and Rhoda held her breath in dismay. Her haste in turning over the leaves had nearly brought about discovery, but henceforth she moved with caution, turning from place to place with wary fingers. Her back ached despite the supporting cushions, and her head swam, but she struggled on until at last the roll of the gong sounded through the house, and the girls awoke with yawns and groans of remembrance. "Black Monday! Oh! Oh! I wish I'd never been born!" "Misery me, and I was having such a lovely dream, all about holidays and picnics, and walks on the sands--" "I've had the most awful night, doing sums all the time, with the Examiner looking over my shoulder. My head is like a jelly!" Then Tom's voice arose in derisive accents. Happy Tom! who was well through her June Matric, and could afford to chaff the poor victims. "Would any young lady like to explain to me how to find the resultant of a system of parallel forces?" "Tom, you are brutal! Be quiet this moment, or we'll come and make you--" "Ha! Ha! Ha! Rhoda, love, just give me the Substance of King Richard's speech to Northumberland, when the latter announced that he was to be removed to Pomfret!" Rhoda began to reply, but stopped abruptly, for on rising from bed she was attacked by a strange giddiness, and lay back against the pillows trembling with cold and nausea. Her hands shook as she uncorked the eau-de-Cologne, and the scent, so far from being reviving, made her shudder afresh. She dressed with difficulty, sitting down at frequent intervals, and growing colder and colder with each exertion, so that when she emerged from her cubicle her pallid face roused Tom's instant attention. "Rhoda, you are ill!" she cried, her chaffing manner changing at once, as she realised the seriousness of the occasion. "What's the matter? Didn't you sleep? Let me feel your hand--. Goodness, what a frog! You had better lie down, and let me send for nurse." "No, thank you, Tom, _please_! It's only excitement. I shall be better after breakfast. Please, please, don't make a fuss!" "Humph!" said Tom shortly, "just as you like. If you feel yourself going, stoop down and pretend to fasten your shoe, and give a scrub to your cheeks before passing Miss Bruce. She'll spot you in a moment if you go in with a face like that."