“It’s like playing in a match,” Winona assured her.  “If you think the other side’s going to win, you may as well throw up the sponge at once.  Don’t give way an inch until you absolutely know you’re beaten.  I’m just determined you’re to have that scholarship!”

“If I could only think so!” sighed Garnet.  “Oh, Win! what should I do without you?  When I’m with you my spirits go up, and I’ve courage enough for anything, and when I’m by myself I feel a wretched jelly-fish of a creature, just inclined to sit in a corner and blub!”

“No blubbering, please!  Worst thing possible for the eyes!” commanded Winona.

“Well, I won’t!  You’ve cheered me up tremendously.  I’m glad you’ll be in the exam. room with me.  I shall feel twice as brave if I know you’re there!”

The days sped on, and the very last one came.  Miss Bishop and Miss Goodson had given their final coachings and their most valuable help.  Winona and Garnet devoted the evening to mastering one or two doubtful points.

“We’ve done our best, and it depends now whether we’ve luck in the questions,” said Winona.  “I think we’d better put the books away.  We shall only muddle ourselves if we try any more to-night.  Aunt Harriet says we’re not to get up at five to-morrow.  We shall have quite a hard enough day as it is.”

“It wouldn’t be much use,” said Garnet, thrusting back the hair from her hot forehead.  “I feel I’ve taken in the utmost my brains can hold.  There’s no room for anything more.  How close the air is!”

“I believe we’re going to have another storm,” replied Winona, leaning out of the widely opened window, to gaze at the lurid sky.  “There’s a feeling of electricity about.  Ah!  There it begins!”

A vivid flash behind the tower of the old Minster was followed by a long rumble of thunder.  The atmosphere was painfully oppressive.  Again a white streak ran like a corkscrew over the clouds, and a louder peal resounded.  The storm was drawing nearer.

“Come from the window, Winona.  It’s not safe!”

Garnet was terribly afraid of thunder.  The electricity in the air has a powerful effect upon some temperaments, and at the first sound of heaven’s artillery she was crouching beside her bed, with her head buried in the pillow.

“Don’t be a silly ostrich!” retorted her chum.  “It’s quite far away yet, and if it does come, the chances are a thousand to one against it hitting this particular house.  Why, you weren’t half so scared of Zeppelins!  For goodness’ sake don’t get hysterical!  Show some pluck!”

Winona’s remarks might not be complimentary, but they were bracing.  Garnet laughed nervously, and consented to sit upon a chair.  In about half-an-hour the storm blew over, leaving a clear sky and stars.

“Come and put your head out of the window, and feel how deliciously fresh and cool it is!” commanded Winona.  “Look at that bright planet!  I think it must be Jupiter.  I take it as a good omen for to-morrow.  The storm will have cleared your brain, and your star’s in the ascendant.  Here’s luck to the exam.!”