CHAPTER V. ROSES AND THORNS.


"Oh! what is it? What has happened?" cried Clover, starting up in
bed, the next morning, as a clanging sound roused her suddenly from
sleep. It was only the rising-bell, ringing at the end of Quaker Row.

Katy held her watch up to the dim light. She could just see the hands.
Yes: they pointed to six. It was actually morning! She and Clover
jumped up, and began to dress as fast as possible.

"We've only got half an hour," said Clover, unhooking the rules, and
carrying them to the window,--"Half an hour; and this says that we
must turn the mattress, smooth the under-sheet over the bolster, and
spend five minutes in silent devotion! We'll have to be quick to do
all that besides dressing ourselves!"

It is never easy to be quick, when one is in a hurry. Every thing
sets itself against you. Fingers turn into thumbs; dresses won't
button, nor pins keep their place. With all their haste, Katy and
Clover were barely ready when the second bell sounded. As they
hastened downstairs, Katy fastening her breast-pin, and Clover her
cuffs, they met other girls, some looking half asleep, some half
dressed; all yawning, rubbing their eyes, and complaining of the
early hour.

"Isn't it horrid?" said Lilly Page, hurrying by with no collar on,