Winona’s conscience smote her.  She had rather neglected Garnet since they had entered the Sixth Form.  During their year in V.a. they had been fast friends.  As new girls together and scholarship holders, a close tie had existed between them, and they had shared in many small excitements and adventures.  When Winona was chosen Games Captain, however, their interests seemed to separate.  Garnet was not athletic, she cared little for hockey or cricket, and preferred to devote her surplus energies to the Literary Society or the Debating Club.  Almost inevitably they had drifted apart.  Winona, wrapped up in the supreme fascinations of hockey matches and gymnasium practice, had chummed with Marjorie Kemp, Bessie Kirk, and Joyce Newton, who shared her enthusiasm for games.  She remembered with a pang of self-reproach that she had not walked round the playground with Garnet once this term.  Winona admired fidelity, but she certainly could not pride herself upon having practiced that virtue of late.

Garnet was absent from her desk next day, but when she returned to the school on Thursday, Winona sought an opportunity, and bore her off for a private talk.  Garnet was looking very pale.

“I’m dreadfully upset,” she confessed.  “I told you I had to see a specialist about my eyes?  Well, yesterday we went to Dunningham, to consult Sir Alfred Pollard.  He says there’s very serious trouble, and that if I’m not careful, I may ruin my sight altogether.  He absolutely forbids any home work in the evenings.”

“Forbids home work!” gasped Winona.

“Yes, utterly!  Just think of it!  With the examinations only six weeks off!  I begged and implored, but he said I might choose between my sight and my exam.  I suppose I shall have to fail!”

“Oh, Garnet!”

“Yes,” continued her friend bitterly, “to fail at the very end, after all my work!  And I have worked!  When other girls have been getting all sorts of fun, I’ve sat in my bedroom with my books.  Oh, it’s too cruel!...  Don’t think me conceited, but I thought I might have a chance for the Seaton Scholarship.  It was worth trying for!  If you knew how I long to go to College!  It would be so glorious to write B.A. after one’s name!  Besides, I must do something in life.  All my sisters have chosen careers, and I had, quite decided to take up teaching as a profession.  I talked it over with Miss Goodson one day.  She was so nice about it, and strongly advised me to go to College if I could possibly get the opportunity.  Well, I suppose that dream’s over now!  Not much chance of a scholarship with one’s prep knocked off!”

“Oh, Garnet, I’m so sorry!  Will the doctor let you take the exams, at all?”

“Yes, I may attend school as usual, and go in for the exam., but I’m not to look at a book after 4 p.m. or before 9 a.m., so it’s a very empty permission.  How I shall rage all the evenings!  I wish I had a gramophone to howl out my work into my ears, as I mayn’t use my eyes!”