It was now early in June. The school would break-up in about five weeks--for Mrs Hazlitt never kept to the usual high-school dates--and all the girls were deeply interested in those guests who were to assemble to witness the distribution of prizes, to see an old play of the time of Queen Elizabeth acted in the Elizabethan garden, and, in especial, to behold the tableaux of that masterpiece of Tennyson--"A Dream of Fair Women." Mrs Hazlitt was remarkable for her gifts as a reciter, and had arranged to tell the story herself in Tennyson's immortal words and to allow those girls who were best suited to the parts to appear in the tableaux during the recitation. By common consent, to Nora Beverley was assigned the part of Helen of Troy. Nora had been at the school almost since she was fourteen, and had grown up in its midst a gentle, reserved, dignified girl, who never gave her heart especially to any one particular person, but was admired and respected by all. She was clever, without being ingenious; very beautiful in appearance, and was known to be rich. Cara Burt was supposed to be her special friend, and was sent to her now on this occasion to desire her to come at once to Mrs Hazlitt, who was seated in the old Elizabethan garden, and was choosing the different girls who were to take part in the coming tableaux. Cara returned somewhat slowly up the box walk and stood before Mrs Hazlitt with downcast eyes. "Well," said that good lady; "and where is Honora? You were some time away, Cara; why has she not come with you?" "I don't know whether she will come at all," said Cara. "She seems very--I don't mean undecided, but decided against taking the part." A swift red passed over Mrs Hazlitt's cheeks. She was evidently quite unaccustomed to the slightest form of insubordination. "Did you tell Nora that I desired her to be present?" was her remark. "Yes--of course I did, Mrs Hazlitt. Oh, may I sit near you, Mary?" Cara seated herself cosily beside Mary L'Estrange. "I told her, Mrs Hazlitt, that you wanted her immediately, and where we were all to be found, and that she was to be Helen of Troy." "Well--and--?" said Mrs Hazlitt. "She said she did not want to be Helen of Troy--that Helen of Troy was a wicked woman, and that she would not take the part." Again the colour swept across Mrs Hazlitt's face. "We must regard Helen as visionary," she said, "a vision of womanly beauty. There is no one in the school who can take her, except Honora, but I override no one's scruples. I presume, however, that she will be gracious enough to give me an answer."