GERALD REPLIED TRUTHFULLY.

"WELL,

1 SUPPOSE I WILL COME IF MY AUNT INSISTS.

00

JANIE GAVE HIM AN ODD LITTLE GLANCE, HER FOREHEAD WRINKLING WITH PUZZLEMENT. BUT SHE BRIGHTENED IMMEDIATELY. "OH, I UNDERSTAND, YOU MUST BE A LITTLE SHY ABOUT MEETING NEW BOYS."

11

GERALD NODDED EMPHATICALLY,

"DON'T WORRY," JANIE SAID. "I'LL

INTRODUCE YOU TO ALL THE REALLY NICE BOYS. YOU'LL SEE THERE IS NO REASON TO WORRY."

THERE WAS NO FURTHER TIME TO TALK, AS THE BELL SUMMONED THEM BACK TO THEIR CLASSROOMS.

TWICE BEFORE LESSONS ENDED THAT MORNING, GERALD WAS CHIDED FOR INATTENTION, AS HIS MIND WAS A TURMOIL OF WORRIES AND CARES. HE WAS WARNED THAT A REPETITION WOULD BRING A SEVERE CANING.

AS THE CLASSES ENDED FOR THE MORNING, JANIE WHISPERED TO HIM THAT IT WAS BATHROOM TIME. TAKING HIM BY THE HAND, SHE URGED HIM ALONG AT HER SIDE TO A ROOM WITH A LINE OF CUBICLES AT EACH SIDE AND SEVERAL WASH STANDS AT THE FAR END. GERALD SAW THAT THERE WERE TWO INSTRUCTORS PRESENT TO SUPERVISE.

49.