She was much petted at school,

both by her own Form and by the Seniors,

for she had sweet, coaxing little ways,

and a helpless, confiding look in her blue eyes that was rather fascinating,

her lovely fair flaxen hair gave her the appearance of a large wax doll, just new from a toy shop.

Lesbia had one great advantage:

she was always well dressed.

She possessed a rich cousin of exactly her own age, whose clothes were passed on to her.

Irene grew rapidly,

so her handsome frocks and coats were scarcely worn when they reached Lesbia,

as Aunt Violet invariably sent them first to the cleaners, they would arrive wrapped in folds of dainty tissue paper, and looking like new.