CHAPTER IXMr. Oriel’s Shakespeare readings had succeeded beyond his hopes. Miss Head, at first faintly resentful of his intrusion, had been so captivated by his elderly charm that of her own accord she suggested a second evening in the week. So on Tuesdays and Thursdays Mr. Oriel walked up to the school, often having tea with Miss Sparling first in her pavilion, and took his class through As You Like It. His one stipulation was that no girl should come unless she wished, but such was the enthusiasm in the Fifths and Sixths (for to these forms the treat was limited) that extra chairs had to be brought in from the Lower Second. The readings rapidly turned into a dramatic class. Saturday was added to the Shakespeare evenings and Mr. Oriel and various girls in turn ranted, raved, joked and mel
