“I told you Joyce looked queer yesterday!” said Bessie Kirk.

“Suppose we all catch it!” shuddered Freda Long.

“Don’t!  It’s too horrible!”

There was a feeling of utter consternation among the girls as the bad news was discussed.  They wondered what was going to happen.

“Miss Bishop is telephoning to the Medical Officer of Health,” volunteered Olave Parry, who had been downstairs to seek fresh information.

Just then Miss Huntley came into the room, though it was not yet nine o’clock.  She went at once to her desk and took the call over.

“What’s going to happen about Joyce?” one or two of the girls ventured to ask her.

“I don’t know yet.  I expect we shall all be put into quarantine.  Miss Bishop is making arrangements.  In the meantime we will go on with our work.”

It was wise of Miss Huntley to begin the English Language lesson, for though every one was of course very abstracted, it gave some ostensible occupation.  Before the hour was over Miss Bishop sailed into the room.  She looked pale and anxious, but spoke with her usual calm dignity.

“Girls,” she announced, “you have heard of the very difficult situation in which the school is placed.  I have rung up Dr. Barnes, the Medical Officer of Health, and he tells me that the whole of V.a. must be regarded as ‘contact cases.’  That means that as Joyce has been amongst you, it is possible for any of you to develop the disease.  In order to avoid the spread of infection throughout the city, you will have to be most carefully kept apart.  I have sent all the other girls home, and you will stay at the school during to-day.  Dr. Barnes is coming this morning to re-vaccinate you, and this afternoon you are to be taken to the Camp at Dunheath, where you will stay until the period of quarantine is over.  Go home?  Most certainly not!  No girl is to leave the school on any pretext whatever.  I am communicating with your home people and requesting that they send you a few necessary things to take to the camp, but no personal interviews can be allowed.  Dr. Barnes’ orders are most emphatic.  You need not be alarmed, for if you are all re-vaccinated it is highly improbable that you will be infected, and I think you will all enjoy yourselves at Dunheath.”

When the Principal had gone the girls clustered round Miss Huntley to discuss the situation.

“Yes, of course I’m going with you,” said the mistress.  “I’m a contact case as much as anybody else!  Miss Bishop tells me that Dr. Barnes will send a hospital nurse with us.  It’s a nuisance to be in quarantine, but it will be beautiful out in the country just now, and we’ll manage to enjoy ourselves.”

The girls took the matter in various fashions according to their respective temperaments.  Some were nervous, while others regarded it as a joke.  The latter rallied their more timorous companions with scant mercy.