"Let us pray."

Obeying the word, the fifty-five rose, faced about, and knelt to their
chairs. It was an extempore prayer, and a long one, and Laura did not
hear much of it; for the two big girls on her right kept up throughout a
running conversation. Also, when it was about half over she was startled
to hear Miss Zielinski say, in a shrill whisper: "Heavens! There's that
mouse again," and audibly draw her skirts round her. Even Miss Chapman,
praying to her piano-chair some distance off, had heard, and turned her
head to frown rebuke.

The prayer at an end, Mr. and Mrs. Strachey bowed vaguely in several
directions, shook hands with the governesses, and left the room. This
was the signal for two of the teachers to advance with open Bibles.

"Here, little one, have you learned your verse?" whispered Laura's
pleasant neighbour.

Laura knew nothing of it; but the big girl lent her a Bible, and, since
it was not a hard verse and every girl repeated it, it was quickly
learned.

I WISDOM DWELL WITH PRUDENCE AND FIND OUT KNOWLEDGE OF WITTY INVENTIONS.

Told off in batches, they filed up the stairs. On the first landing
stood Miss Day, watching with lynx-eyes to see that no books or eatables
were smuggled to the bedrooms. In a strident voice she exhorted
the noisy to silence, and the loiterers to haste.

Laura sped to her room. She was fortunate enough to find it still empty.