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Read the following passage:

1. The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines eco-tourism as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and sustain the well-being of local people."
2. Responsible tourism observes basic eco-ethical tenets. Fundamental rights like the right to exist or to live in peace, right to pure air and pure water are basic rights even for wildlife, indigenous people as well as for nature as whole.
3. Nature tourism and wildlife tourism are top priority for most foreign tourists, but in the Indian context, all picnics, nature walks, nature camps, trekking, hiking, safaris, jungle trails, mountaineering, cultural tours, pilgrimages, beaching, water sports, canoeing, boating and game-fishing should all observe eco-ethics. One step forward in ecotourism is to get involved in eco-restoration, biodiversity restoration and eco-development of local people in any degraded tourist ecosystem.
4. India, with her kaleidoscopic ecosystems and a wealth of cultural heritage of great antiquity has immense scope for ecotourism. Constant research to identify newer areas and spots for ecotourism, preparing brochures on them and on the eco-ethics relevant to each. Organising environmental trails and training knowledgeable guides, preferably using the services of the local people are the obligations of the tourism department.
5. This novel concept of ecotourism is so visionary that in the long run, it would be much viable economically, sustainable ecologically, acceptable socially and ideal philosophically rather than traditional tourism.

On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following:

Read the following passage:

1. The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines eco-tourism as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and sustain the well-being of local people."
2. Responsible tourism observes basic eco-ethical tenets. Fundamental rights like the right to exist or to live in peace, right to pure air and pure water are basic rights even for wildlife, indigenous people as well as for nature as whole.
3. Nature tourism and wildlife tourism are top priority for most foreign tourists, but in the Indian context, all picnics, nature walks, nature camps, trekking, hiking, safaris, jungle trails, mountaineering, cultural tours, pilgrimages, beaching, water sports, canoeing, boating and game-fishing should all observe eco-ethics. One step forward in ecotourism is to get involved in eco-restoration, biodiversity restoration and eco-development of local people in any degraded tourist ecosystem.
4. India, with her kaleidoscopic ecosystems and a wealth of cultural heritage of great antiquity has immense scope for ecotourism. Constant research to identify newer areas and spots for ecotourism, preparing brochures on them and on the eco-ethics relevant to each. Organising environmental trails and training knowledgeable guides, preferably using the services of the local people are the obligations of the tourism department.
5. This novel concept of ecotourism is so visionary that in the long run, it would be much viable economically, sustainable ecologically, acceptable socially and ideal philosophically rather than traditional tourism.

On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following:

In the Midst of the July 1966 hunger strike I had my second visit from my wife. It was almost exactly two years after the first visit, and it nearly did not happen at all. Winnie had been under constant harassment since her first visit in 1964. Her sisters and brother were persecuted by the police, and the authorities attempted to forbid anyone in her family from living with her. Some of this I learned at the time, much of it I found out later. Some of the nastiest items were known to me because when I would return from the quarry, I often would find neatly cut clippings about Winnie that had been anonymously placed on my bed by the warders.

In small and spiteful ways, the authorities did their best to make Winnie's journeys as unpleasant as possible. For the previous two years, her visits had been stymied by local magistrates and by the repeated bannings that prevented her from traveling. I had recently heard through counsel that Winnie had been informed by the police that she could visit me only if she carried a pass. Winnie, who had been protesting the government's policy regarding women's passes since the 1950s, rightly refused to carry the hated document. The authorities were clearly attempting to humiliate her and me. But I thought it was more important that we see each other than to resist the petty machinations of the authorities, and Winnie consented to carry a pass. I missed her enormously and needed the reassurance of seeing her, and we also had vital family matters to discuss.

The regulations governing each of Winnie's visits were long and complicated. She was barred from taking a train or car and had to fly, making the trip much more expensive. She was required to take the shortest route from the airport to Caledon Square, the Cape Town police station, where she was required to sign various documents. She had to report to the same station on the way back and sign more documents.

In the Midst of the July 1966 hunger strike I had my second visit from my wife. It was almost exactly two years after the first visit, and it nearly did not happen at all. Winnie had been under constant harassment since her first visit in 1964. Her sisters and brother were persecuted by the police, and the authorities attempted to forbid anyone in her family from living with her. Some of this I learned at the time, much of it I found out later. Some of the nastiest items were known to me because when I would return from the quarry, I often would find neatly cut clippings about Winnie that had been anonymously placed on my bed by the warders.

In small and spiteful ways, the authorities did their best to make Winnie's journeys as unpleasant as possible. For the previous two years, her visits had been stymied by local magistrates and by the repeated bannings that prevented her from traveling. I had recently heard through counsel that Winnie had been informed by the police that she could visit me only if she carried a pass. Winnie, who had been protesting the government's policy regarding women's passes since the 1950s, rightly refused to carry the hated document. The authorities were clearly attempting to humiliate her and me. But I thought it was more important that we see each other than to resist the petty machinations of the authorities, and Winnie consented to carry a pass. I missed her enormously and needed the reassurance of seeing her, and we also had vital family matters to discuss.

The regulations governing each of Winnie's visits were long and complicated. She was barred from taking a train or car and had to fly, making the trip much more expensive. She was required to take the shortest route from the airport to Caledon Square, the Cape Town police station, where she was required to sign various documents. She had to report to the same station on the way back and sign more documents.

In the Midst of the July 1966 hunger strike I had my second visit from my wife. It was almost exactly two years after the first visit, and it nearly did not happen at all. Winnie had been under constant harassment since her first visit in 1964. Her sisters and brother were persecuted by the police, and the authorities attempted to forbid anyone in her family from living with her. Some of this I learned at the time, much of it I found out later. Some of the nastiest items were known to me because when I would return from the quarry, I often would find neatly cut clippings about Winnie that had been anonymously placed on my bed by the warders.

In small and spiteful ways, the authorities did their best to make Winnie's journeys as unpleasant as possible. For the previous two years, her visits had been stymied by local magistrates and by the repeated bannings that prevented her from traveling. I had recently heard through counsel that Winnie had been informed by the police that she could visit me only if she carried a pass. Winnie, who had been protesting the government's policy regarding women's passes since the 1950s, rightly refused to carry the hated document. The authorities were clearly attempting to humiliate her and me. But I thought it was more important that we see each other than to resist the petty machinations of the authorities, and Winnie consented to carry a pass. I missed her enormously and needed the reassurance of seeing her, and we also had vital family matters to discuss.

The regulations governing each of Winnie's visits were long and complicated. She was barred from taking a train or car and had to fly, making the trip much more expensive. She was required to take the shortest route from the airport to Caledon Square, the Cape Town police station, where she was required to sign various documents. She had to report to the same station on the way back and sign more documents.

In the Midst of the July 1966 hunger strike I had my second visit from my wife. It was almost exactly two years after the first visit, and it nearly did not happen at all. Winnie had been under constant harassment since her first visit in 1964. Her sisters and brother were persecuted by the police, and the authorities attempted to forbid anyone in her family from living with her. Some of this I learned at the time, much of it I found out later. Some of the nastiest items were known to me because when I would return from the quarry, I often would find neatly cut clippings about Winnie that had been anonymously placed on my bed by the warders.

In small and spiteful ways, the authorities did their best to make Winnie's journeys as unpleasant as possible. For the previous two years, her visits had been stymied by local magistrates and by the repeated bannings that prevented her from traveling. I had recently heard through counsel that Winnie had been informed by the police that she could visit me only if she carried a pass. Winnie, who had been protesting the government's policy regarding women's passes since the 1950s, rightly refused to carry the hated document. The authorities were clearly attempting to humiliate her and me. But I thought it was more important that we see each other than to resist the petty machinations of the authorities, and Winnie consented to carry a pass. I missed her enormously and needed the reassurance of seeing her, and we also had vital family matters to discuss.

The regulations governing each of Winnie's visits were long and complicated. She was barred from taking a train or car and had to fly, making the trip much more expensive. She was required to take the shortest route from the airport to Caledon Square, the Cape Town police station, where she was required to sign various documents. She had to report to the same station on the way back and sign more documents.

In the Midst of the July 1966 hunger strike I had my second visit from my wife. It was almost exactly two years after the first visit, and it nearly did not happen at all. Winnie had been under constant harassment since her first visit in 1964. Her sisters and brother were persecuted by the police, and the authorities attempted to forbid anyone in her family from living with her. Some of this I learned at the time, much of it I found out later. Some of the nastiest items were known to me because when I would return from the quarry, I often would find neatly cut clippings about Winnie that had been anonymously placed on my bed by the warders.

In small and spiteful ways, the authorities did their best to make Winnie's journeys as unpleasant as possible. For the previous two years, her visits had been stymied by local magistrates and by the repeated bannings that prevented her from traveling. I had recently heard through counsel that Winnie had been informed by the police that she could visit me only if she carried a pass. Winnie, who had been protesting the government's policy regarding women's passes since the 1950s, rightly refused to carry the hated document. The authorities were clearly attempting to humiliate her and me. But I thought it was more important that we see each other than to resist the petty machinations of the authorities, and Winnie consented to carry a pass. I missed her enormously and needed the reassurance of seeing her, and we also had vital family matters to discuss.

The regulations governing each of Winnie's visits were long and complicated. She was barred from taking a train or car and had to fly, making the trip much more expensive. She was required to take the shortest route from the airport to Caledon Square, the Cape Town police station, where she was required to sign various documents. She had to report to the same station on the way back and sign more documents.

In the Midst of the July 1966 hunger strike I had my second visit from my wife. It was almost exactly two years after the first visit, and it nearly did not happen at all. Winnie had been under constant harassment since her first visit in 1964. Her sisters and brother were persecuted by the police, and the authorities attempted to forbid anyone in her family from living with her. Some of this I learned at the time, much of it I found out later. Some of the nastiest items were known to me because when I would return from the quarry, I often would find neatly cut clippings about Winnie that had been anonymously placed on my bed by the warders.

In small and spiteful ways, the authorities did their best to make Winnie's journeys as unpleasant as possible. For the previous two years, her visits had been stymied by local magistrates and by the repeated bannings that prevented her from traveling. I had recently heard through counsel that Winnie had been informed by the police that she could visit me only if she carried a pass. Winnie, who had been protesting the government's policy regarding women's passes since the 1950s, rightly refused to carry the hated document. The authorities were clearly attempting to humiliate her and me. But I thought it was more important that we see each other than to resist the petty machinations of the authorities, and Winnie consented to carry a pass. I missed her enormously and needed the reassurance of seeing her, and we also had vital family matters to discuss.

The regulations governing each of Winnie's visits were long and complicated. She was barred from taking a train or car and had to fly, making the trip much more expensive. She was required to take the shortest route from the airport to Caledon Square, the Cape Town police station, where she was required to sign various documents. She had to report to the same station on the way back and sign more documents.

In order to identify potential for intellectual and educational progress, the literacy rate of a country covers the level of education and skills acquired by a country's inhabitants. Literacy is an important indicator of a country's economic progress and the standard of living - it shows how many people have access to education. However, the standards to measure literacy cannot be universally applied. Measures to identify and define illiterate and literate inhabitants vary from country to country: In some, illiteracy is equated with no schooling at all.

Globally speaking, more men are able to read and write than women, and this disparity is also reflected in the literacy rate in India - with scarcity of schools and education in rural areas being one factor, and poverty another. Especially in rural areas, women and girls are often not given proper access to formal education, and even if they are, many drop out. Today, India is already being surpassed in this area by other emerging economies, like Brazil, China, and even by most other countries in the Asia - Pacific region. To catch up, India now has to offer more educational programs to its rural population, not only on how to read and write, but also on traditional gender roles.

In order to identify potential for intellectual and educational progress, the literacy rate of a country covers the level of education and skills acquired by a country's inhabitants. Literacy is an important indicator of a country's economic progress and the standard of living - it shows how many people have access to education. However, the standards to measure literacy cannot be universally applied. Measures to identify and define illiterate and literate inhabitants vary from country to country: In some, illiteracy is equated with no schooling at all.

Globally speaking, more men are able to read and write than women, and this disparity is also reflected in the literacy rate in India - with scarcity of schools and education in rural areas being one factor, and poverty another. Especially in rural areas, women and girls are often not given proper access to formal education, and even if they are, many drop out. Today, India is already being surpassed in this area by other emerging economies, like Brazil, China, and even by most other countries in the Asia - Pacific region. To catch up, India now has to offer more educational programs to its rural population, not only on how to read and write, but also on traditional gender roles.

In order to identify potential for intellectual and educational progress, the literacy rate of a country covers the level of education and skills acquired by a country's inhabitants. Literacy is an important indicator of a country's economic progress and the standard of living - it shows how many people have access to education. However, the standards to measure literacy cannot be universally applied. Measures to identify and define illiterate and literate inhabitants vary from country to country: In some, illiteracy is equated with no schooling at all.

Globally speaking, more men are able to read and write than women, and this disparity is also reflected in the literacy rate in India - with scarcity of schools and education in rural areas being one factor, and poverty another. Especially in rural areas, women and girls are often not given proper access to formal education, and even if they are, many drop out. Today, India is already being surpassed in this area by other emerging economies, like Brazil, China, and even by most other countries in the Asia - Pacific region. To catch up, India now has to offer more educational programs to its rural population, not only on how to read and write, but also on traditional gender roles.

In order to identify potential for intellectual and educational progress, the literacy rate of a country covers the level of education and skills acquired by a country's inhabitants. Literacy is an important indicator of a country's economic progress and the standard of living - it shows how many people have access to education. However, the standards to measure literacy cannot be universally applied. Measures to identify and define illiterate and literate inhabitants vary from country to country: In some, illiteracy is equated with no schooling at all.

Globally speaking, more men are able to read and write than women, and this disparity is also reflected in the literacy rate in India - with scarcity of schools and education in rural areas being one factor, and poverty another. Especially in rural areas, women and girls are often not given proper access to formal education, and even if they are, many drop out. Today, India is already being surpassed in this area by other emerging economies, like Brazil, China, and even by most other countries in the Asia - Pacific region. To catch up, India now has to offer more educational programs to its rural population, not only on how to read and write, but also on traditional gender roles.

In order to identify potential for intellectual and educational progress, the literacy rate of a country covers the level of education and skills acquired by a country's inhabitants. Literacy is an important indicator of a country's economic progress and the standard of living - it shows how many people have access to education. However, the standards to measure literacy cannot be universally applied. Measures to identify and define illiterate and literate inhabitants vary from country to country: In some, illiteracy is equated with no schooling at all.

Globally speaking, more men are able to read and write than women, and this disparity is also reflected in the literacy rate in India - with scarcity of schools and education in rural areas being one factor, and poverty another. Especially in rural areas, women and girls are often not given proper access to formal education, and even if they are, many drop out. Today, India is already being surpassed in this area by other emerging economies, like Brazil, China, and even by most other countries in the Asia - Pacific region. To catch up, India now has to offer more educational programs to its rural population, not only on how to read and write, but also on traditional gender roles.

In order to identify potential for intellectual and educational progress, the literacy rate of a country covers the level of education and skills acquired by a country's inhabitants. Literacy is an important indicator of a country's economic progress and the standard of living - it shows how many people have access to education. However, the standards to measure literacy cannot be universally applied. Measures to identify and define illiterate and literate inhabitants vary from country to country: In some, illiteracy is equated with no schooling at all.

Globally speaking, more men are able to read and write than women, and this disparity is also reflected in the literacy rate in India - with scarcity of schools and education in rural areas being one factor, and poverty another. Especially in rural areas, women and girls are often not given proper access to formal education, and even if they are, many drop out. Today, India is already being surpassed in this area by other emerging economies, like Brazil, China, and even by most other countries in the Asia - Pacific region. To catch up, India now has to offer more educational programs to its rural population, not only on how to read and write, but also on traditional gender roles.

It is your duty to train and develop your mind and acquire knowledge, as much as you possibly can obtain. Knowledge is like a deep well, fed by perennial springs, and your mind is the little bucket that you drop into it: you will get as much as you can assimilate. The brain, which is the physical organ of the mind, is one of the two precious products of the aeons of Evolution, the other is the imponderable 'Social instinct'. This wonderful Brain, whose every convolution represents millions of years of Time, really distinguishes you from the animals. Many animals have very powerful sense organs; the eagle, the ant and the dog have keener sense of sight than Man. But no animal has a more evolved Brain and higher Intelligence. If you do not develop and use this Brain to the utmost of your power, you are more akin to the beasts than to Homo sapiens.

Knowledge and mental self-culture confer untold blessings upon you. You will not be the victim of superstition and demagogy in religion and politics, not to be doped and duped by the priests and the politicians of capitalism and so called Socialism: is this not a nobel aim worth striving for? Most men and women today are not free and wise.

They are fleeced and fooled on account of their ignorance. Half the ills of man are due to ignorance.

It is your duty to train and develop your mind and acquire knowledge, as much as you possibly can obtain. Knowledge is like a deep well, fed by perennial springs, and your mind is the little bucket that you drop into it: you will get as much as you can assimilate. The brain, which is the physical organ of the mind, is one of the two precious products of the aeons of Evolution, the other is the imponderable 'Social instinct'. This wonderful Brain, whose every convolution represents millions of years of Time, really distinguishes you from the animals. Many animals have very powerful sense organs; the eagle, the ant and the dog have keener sense of sight than Man. But no animal has a more evolved Brain and higher Intelligence. If you do not develop and use this Brain to the utmost of your power, you are more akin to the beasts than to Homo sapiens.

Knowledge and mental self-culture confer untold blessings upon you. You will not be the victim of superstition and demagogy in religion and politics, not to be doped and duped by the priests and the politicians of capitalism and so called Socialism: is this not a nobel aim worth striving for? Most men and women today are not free and wise.

They are fleeced and fooled on account of their ignorance. Half the ills of man are due to ignorance.

It is your duty to train and develop your mind and acquire knowledge, as much as you possibly can obtain. Knowledge is like a deep well, fed by perennial springs, and your mind is the little bucket that you drop into it: you will get as much as you can assimilate. The brain, which is the physical organ of the mind, is one of the two precious products of the aeons of Evolution, the other is the imponderable 'Social instinct'. This wonderful Brain, whose every convolution represents millions of years of Time, really distinguishes you from the animals. Many animals have very powerful sense organs; the eagle, the ant and the dog have keener sense of sight than Man. But no animal has a more evolved Brain and higher Intelligence. If you do not develop and use this Brain to the utmost of your power, you are more akin to the beasts than to Homo sapiens.

Knowledge and mental self-culture confer untold blessings upon you. You will not be the victim of superstition and demagogy in religion and politics, not to be doped and duped by the priests and the politicians of capitalism and so called Socialism: is this not a nobel aim worth striving for? Most men and women today are not free and wise.

They are fleeced and fooled on account of their ignorance. Half the ills of man are due to ignorance.

It is your duty to train and develop your mind and acquire knowledge, as much as you possibly can obtain. Knowledge is like a deep well, fed by perennial springs, and your mind is the little bucket that you drop into it: you will get as much as you can assimilate. The brain, which is the physical organ of the mind, is one of the two precious products of the aeons of Evolution, the other is the imponderable 'Social instinct'. This wonderful Brain, whose every convolution represents millions of years of Time, really distinguishes you from the animals. Many animals have very powerful sense organs; the eagle, the ant and the dog have keener sense of sight than Man. But no animal has a more evolved Brain and higher Intelligence. If you do not develop and use this Brain to the utmost of your power, you are more akin to the beasts than to Homo sapiens.

Knowledge and mental self-culture confer untold blessings upon you. You will not be the victim of superstition and demagogy in religion and politics, not to be doped and duped by the priests and the politicians of capitalism and so called Socialism: is this not a nobel aim worth striving for? Most men and women today are not free and wise.

They are fleeced and fooled on account of their ignorance. Half the ills of man are due to ignorance.

It is your duty to train and develop your mind and acquire knowledge, as much as you possibly can obtain. Knowledge is like a deep well, fed by perennial springs, and your mind is the little bucket that you drop into it: you will get as much as you can assimilate. The brain, which is the physical organ of the mind, is one of the two precious products of the aeons of Evolution, the other is the imponderable 'Social instinct'. This wonderful Brain, whose every convolution represents millions of years of Time, really distinguishes you from the animals. Many animals have very powerful sense organs; the eagle, the ant and the dog have keener sense of sight than Man. But no animal has a more evolved Brain and higher Intelligence. If you do not develop and use this Brain to the utmost of your power, you are more akin to the beasts than to Homo sapiens.

Knowledge and mental self-culture confer untold blessings upon you. You will not be the victim of superstition and demagogy in religion and politics, not to be doped and duped by the priests and the politicians of capitalism and so called Socialism: is this not a nobel aim worth striving for? Most men and women today are not free and wise.

They are fleeced and fooled on account of their ignorance. Half the ills of man are due to ignorance.

It is your duty to train and develop your mind and acquire knowledge, as much as you possibly can obtain. Knowledge is like a deep well, fed by perennial springs, and your mind is the little bucket that you drop into it: you will get as much as you can assimilate. The brain, which is the physical organ of the mind, is one of the two precious products of the aeons of Evolution, the other is the imponderable 'Social instinct'. This wonderful Brain, whose every convolution represents millions of years of Time, really distinguishes you from the animals. Many animals have very powerful sense organs; the eagle, the ant and the dog have keener sense of sight than Man. But no animal has a more evolved Brain and higher Intelligence. If you do not develop and use this Brain to the utmost of your power, you are more akin to the beasts than to Homo sapiens.

Knowledge and mental self-culture confer untold blessings upon you. You will not be the victim of superstition and demagogy in religion and politics, not to be doped and duped by the priests and the politicians of capitalism and so called Socialism: is this not a nobel aim worth striving for? Most men and women today are not free and wise.

They are fleeced and fooled on account of their ignorance. Half the ills of man are due to ignorance.

The first form did not really see very much of Erica because she did not have lessons with them. But even if they met her in a passage or in the art room or gym they looked the other way. In the common-room at night Erica had a miserable time. Not one of the second form girls also would have anything to do with her. Loud remarks about sneaks and cowards were made in her hearing. The only person who ever threw her a word at all was the bad-tempered Margery Fenworthy. Erica did not like Margery any more than the other girls did but she was so grateful to be spoken to even, by the surly first former that she almost began to like the girl.

'I'm surprised you speak to Erica, Margery,' said Pat, when she had heard Margery ask to borrow Erica's stationery said Margery, in her usual rude way. 'You're none of you friendly to me, and I know what it is to have people being beastly to you.' 'But Margery, it's your own fault,' said Pat in surprise. 'You're so rude and sullen. You never smile and joke.' Margery, 'you don't give me a chance.'' Oh, Margery, what a fib'! Cried Pat. 'It's you who never give us a chance to be decent to you. You scowl and glower and frown all the time.' 'If you're going to pick me to pieces you can save yourself the trouble', said Margery, fiercely. 'I don't care tuppence for any of you. And if I want to speak to that wretched Erica, I shall. Who cares for a pack of silly girls, and a crowd of stuck-up teachers? I don't' Pat was astonished. What a strange girl Margery was! Did she really want a chance of being friends with the others? Was she terribly shy? What was behind that funny manner of hers?

Pat talked about it with her twin. 'Margery is always making enemies she said. 'I spoke to her today about it and she accused us of never giving her a chance! Do you think we ought to do something about it?'

The first form did not really see very much of Erica because she did not have lessons with them. But even if they met her in a passage or in the art room or gym they looked the other way. In the common-room at night Erica had a miserable time. Not one of the second form girls also would have anything to do with her. Loud remarks about sneaks and cowards were made in her hearing. The only person who ever threw her a word at all was the bad-tempered Margery Fenworthy. Erica did not like Margery any more than the other girls did but she was so grateful to be spoken to even, by the surly first former that she almost began to like the girl.

'I'm surprised you speak to Erica, Margery,' said Pat, when she had heard Margery ask to borrow Erica's stationery said Margery, in her usual rude way. 'You're none of you friendly to me, and I know what it is to have people being beastly to you.' 'But Margery, it's your own fault,' said Pat in surprise. 'You're so rude and sullen. You never smile and joke.' Margery, 'you don't give me a chance.'' Oh, Margery, what a fib'! Cried Pat. 'It's you who never give us a chance to be decent to you. You scowl and glower and frown all the time.' 'If you're going to pick me to pieces you can save yourself the trouble', said Margery, fiercely. 'I don't care tuppence for any of you. And if I want to speak to that wretched Erica, I shall. Who cares for a pack of silly girls, and a crowd of stuck-up teachers? I don't' Pat was astonished. What a strange girl Margery was! Did she really want a chance of being friends with the others? Was she terribly shy? What was behind that funny manner of hers?

Pat talked about it with her twin. 'Margery is always making enemies she said. 'I spoke to her today about it and she accused us of never giving her a chance! Do you think we ought to do something about it?'

The first form did not really see very much of Erica because she did not have lessons with them. But even if they met her in a passage or in the art room or gym they looked the other way. In the common-room at night Erica had a miserable time. Not one of the second form girls also would have anything to do with her. Loud remarks about sneaks and cowards were made in her hearing. The only person who ever threw her a word at all was the bad-tempered Margery Fenworthy. Erica did not like Margery any more than the other girls did but she was so grateful to be spoken to even, by the surly first former that she almost began to like the girl.

'I'm surprised you speak to Erica, Margery,' said Pat, when she had heard Margery ask to borrow Erica's stationery said Margery, in her usual rude way. 'You're none of you friendly to me, and I know what it is to have people being beastly to you.' 'But Margery, it's your own fault,' said Pat in surprise. 'You're so rude and sullen. You never smile and joke.' Margery, 'you don't give me a chance.'' Oh, Margery, what a fib'! Cried Pat. 'It's you who never give us a chance to be decent to you. You scowl and glower and frown all the time.' 'If you're going to pick me to pieces you can save yourself the trouble', said Margery, fiercely. 'I don't care tuppence for any of you. And if I want to speak to that wretched Erica, I shall. Who cares for a pack of silly girls, and a crowd of stuck-up teachers? I don't' Pat was astonished. What a strange girl Margery was! Did she really want a chance of being friends with the others? Was she terribly shy? What was behind that funny manner of hers?

Pat talked about it with her twin. 'Margery is always making enemies she said. 'I spoke to her today about it and she accused us of never giving her a chance! Do you think we ought to do something about it?'

The first form did not really see very much of Erica because she did not have lessons with them. But even if they met her in a passage or in the art room or gym they looked the other way. In the common-room at night Erica had a miserable time. Not one of the second form girls also would have anything to do with her. Loud remarks about sneaks and cowards were made in her hearing. The only person who ever threw her a word at all was the bad-tempered Margery Fenworthy. Erica did not like Margery any more than the other girls did but she was so grateful to be spoken to even, by the surly first former that she almost began to like the girl.

'I'm surprised you speak to Erica, Margery,' said Pat, when she had heard Margery ask to borrow Erica's stationery said Margery, in her usual rude way. 'You're none of you friendly to me, and I know what it is to have people being beastly to you.' 'But Margery, it's your own fault,' said Pat in surprise. 'You're so rude and sullen. You never smile and joke.' Margery, 'you don't give me a chance.'' Oh, Margery, what a fib'! Cried Pat. 'It's you who never give us a chance to be decent to you. You scowl and glower and frown all the time.' 'If you're going to pick me to pieces you can save yourself the trouble', said Margery, fiercely. 'I don't care tuppence for any of you. And if I want to speak to that wretched Erica, I shall. Who cares for a pack of silly girls, and a crowd of stuck-up teachers? I don't' Pat was astonished. What a strange girl Margery was! Did she really want a chance of being friends with the others? Was she terribly shy? What was behind that funny manner of hers?

Pat talked about it with her twin. 'Margery is always making enemies she said. 'I spoke to her today about it and she accused us of never giving her a chance! Do you think we ought to do something about it?'

The first form did not really see very much of Erica because she did not have lessons with them. But even if they met her in a passage or in the art room or gym they looked the other way. In the common-room at night Erica had a miserable time. Not one of the second form girls also would have anything to do with her. Loud remarks about sneaks and cowards were made in her hearing. The only person who ever threw her a word at all was the bad-tempered Margery Fenworthy. Erica did not like Margery any more than the other girls did but she was so grateful to be spoken to even, by the surly first former that she almost began to like the girl.

'I'm surprised you speak to Erica, Margery,' said Pat, when she had heard Margery ask to borrow Erica's stationery said Margery, in her usual rude way. 'You're none of you friendly to me, and I know what it is to have people being beastly to you.' 'But Margery, it's your own fault,' said Pat in surprise. 'You're so rude and sullen. You never smile and joke.' Margery, 'you don't give me a chance.'' Oh, Margery, what a fib'! Cried Pat. 'It's you who never give us a chance to be decent to you. You scowl and glower and frown all the time.' 'If you're going to pick me to pieces you can save yourself the trouble', said Margery, fiercely. 'I don't care tuppence for any of you. And if I want to speak to that wretched Erica, I shall. Who cares for a pack of silly girls, and a crowd of stuck-up teachers? I don't' Pat was astonished. What a strange girl Margery was! Did she really want a chance of being friends with the others? Was she terribly shy? What was behind that funny manner of hers?

Pat talked about it with her twin. 'Margery is always making enemies she said. 'I spoke to her today about it and she accused us of never giving her a chance! Do you think we ought to do something about it?'

The first form did not really see very much of Erica because she did not have lessons with them. But even if they met her in a passage or in the art room or gym they looked the other way. In the common-room at night Erica had a miserable time. Not one of the second form girls also would have anything to do with her. Loud remarks about sneaks and cowards were made in her hearing. The only person who ever threw her a word at all was the bad-tempered Margery Fenworthy. Erica did not like Margery any more than the other girls did but she was so grateful to be spoken to even, by the surly first former that she almost began to like the girl.

'I'm surprised you speak to Erica, Margery,' said Pat, when she had heard Margery ask to borrow Erica's stationery said Margery, in her usual rude way. 'You're none of you friendly to me, and I know what it is to have people being beastly to you.' 'But Margery, it's your own fault,' said Pat in surprise. 'You're so rude and sullen. You never smile and joke.' Margery, 'you don't give me a chance.'' Oh, Margery, what a fib'! Cried Pat. 'It's you who never give us a chance to be decent to you. You scowl and glower and frown all the time.' 'If you're going to pick me to pieces you can save yourself the trouble', said Margery, fiercely. 'I don't care tuppence for any of you. And if I want to speak to that wretched Erica, I shall. Who cares for a pack of silly girls, and a crowd of stuck-up teachers? I don't' Pat was astonished. What a strange girl Margery was! Did she really want a chance of being friends with the others? Was she terribly shy? What was behind that funny manner of hers?

Pat talked about it with her twin. 'Margery is always making enemies she said. 'I spoke to her today about it and she accused us of never giving her a chance! Do you think we ought to do something about it?'

She took me by the hand walked me into the lobby like a five-year old child. Didn't she know I was pushing 15? This was the third home Nancy was placing me in-in a span of eight months! I guess she felt a little sorry for me. The bright fluorescent lights threatened to burn my skin as I walked towards a bouncy-looking lady with curly hair and a sweetly-smiling man. They called themselves Allie and Alex. Cute, I thought.

After they exchanged the usual reams of paperwork, it was off in their Chevy Suburban to get situated into another new home. This time, there were no other foster children and nor another biological child. Anything could happen.

Over the next few weeks, Allie, Alex and I fell into quite a nice routine. She'd make pancakes for breakfast, or he'd fry up some sausage and eggs. They sang a lot, even danced as they cooked. They must have just bought the house because, most weekends, we were either painting a living room butter yellow or staining a coffee table mocha brown.

I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. When would they start threatening a loss of pancakes if I didn't mow the lawn? When would the sausage and eggs be replaced with unidentifiable slosh because he didn't feel like cooking in the morning? But, it never happened. They kept cooking, singing, and dancing like a couple of happy fools.

It was a Saturday afternoon when Allie decided it was time to paint the brick fireplace white. As we crawled closer to the dirty old firepit, we pulled out the petrified wood and noticed a teeny- tiny treasure box! We looked at each other in wonder and excitement. She actually said, "I wonder if the Leprechauns left it!"

She took me by the hand walked me into the lobby like a five-year old child. Didn't she know I was pushing 15? This was the third home Nancy was placing me in-in a span of eight months! I guess she felt a little sorry for me. The bright fluorescent lights threatened to burn my skin as I walked towards a bouncy-looking lady with curly hair and a sweetly-smiling man. They called themselves Allie and Alex. Cute, I thought.

After they exchanged the usual reams of paperwork, it was off in their Chevy Suburban to get situated into another new home. This time, there were no other foster children and nor another biological child. Anything could happen.

Over the next few weeks, Allie, Alex and I fell into quite a nice routine. She'd make pancakes for breakfast, or he'd fry up some sausage and eggs. They sang a lot, even danced as they cooked. They must have just bought the house because, most weekends, we were either painting a living room butter yellow or staining a coffee table mocha brown.

I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. When would they start threatening a loss of pancakes if I didn't mow the lawn? When would the sausage and eggs be replaced with unidentifiable slosh because he didn't feel like cooking in the morning? But, it never happened. They kept cooking, singing, and dancing like a couple of happy fools.

It was a Saturday afternoon when Allie decided it was time to paint the brick fireplace white. As we crawled closer to the dirty old firepit, we pulled out the petrified wood and noticed a teeny- tiny treasure box! We looked at each other in wonder and excitement. She actually said, "I wonder if the Leprechauns left it!"

She took me by the hand walked me into the lobby like a five-year old child. Didn't she know I was pushing 15? This was the third home Nancy was placing me in-in a span of eight months! I guess she felt a little sorry for me. The bright fluorescent lights threatened to burn my skin as I walked towards a bouncy-looking lady with curly hair and a sweetly-smiling man. They called themselves Allie and Alex. Cute, I thought.

After they exchanged the usual reams of paperwork, it was off in their Chevy Suburban to get situated into another new home. This time, there were no other foster children and nor another biological child. Anything could happen.

Over the next few weeks, Allie, Alex and I fell into quite a nice routine. She'd make pancakes for breakfast, or he'd fry up some sausage and eggs. They sang a lot, even danced as they cooked. They must have just bought the house because, most weekends, we were either painting a living room butter yellow or staining a coffee table mocha brown.

I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. When would they start threatening a loss of pancakes if I didn't mow the lawn? When would the sausage and eggs be replaced with unidentifiable slosh because he didn't feel like cooking in the morning? But, it never happened. They kept cooking, singing, and dancing like a couple of happy fools.

It was a Saturday afternoon when Allie decided it was time to paint the brick fireplace white. As we crawled closer to the dirty old firepit, we pulled out the petrified wood and noticed a teeny- tiny treasure box! We looked at each other in wonder and excitement. She actually said, "I wonder if the Leprechauns left it!"

She took me by the hand walked me into the lobby like a five-year old child. Didn't she know I was pushing 15? This was the third home Nancy was placing me in-in a span of eight months! I guess she felt a little sorry for me. The bright fluorescent lights threatened to burn my skin as I walked towards a bouncy-looking lady with curly hair and a sweetly-smiling man. They called themselves Allie and Alex. Cute, I thought.

After they exchanged the usual reams of paperwork, it was off in their Chevy Suburban to get situated into another new home. This time, there were no other foster children and nor another biological child. Anything could happen.

Over the next few weeks, Allie, Alex and I fell into quite a nice routine. She'd make pancakes for breakfast, or he'd fry up some sausage and eggs. They sang a lot, even danced as they cooked. They must have just bought the house because, most weekends, we were either painting a living room butter yellow or staining a coffee table mocha brown.

I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. When would they start threatening a loss of pancakes if I didn't mow the lawn? When would the sausage and eggs be replaced with unidentifiable slosh because he didn't feel like cooking in the morning? But, it never happened. They kept cooking, singing, and dancing like a couple of happy fools.

It was a Saturday afternoon when Allie decided it was time to paint the brick fireplace white. As we crawled closer to the dirty old firepit, we pulled out the petrified wood and noticed a teeny- tiny treasure box! We looked at each other in wonder and excitement. She actually said, "I wonder if the Leprechauns left it!"