The Leader of the Lower School

akes a

d an electric tramway was started for the convenience of the new suburb, the owner of Briarcroft had retreated farther afield, glad enough to escape the proximity of unwelcome neighbours, and to let the Hall to a suitable tenant. As Miss Poppleton announced in her prospectuses, the house was eminently fitted for a school: the situation was healthy, yet conveniently near to the town, the rooms were large and airy, the garden contained several tennis courts, and there was a field at the back for hockey. Visiting masters and mist

lled "an enquiring nose", grey hair brushed back quite straight from a square, "brainy"-looking forehead, and a mouth that had a habit of pursing and unpursing itself very rapidly when its owner was at all irritated or disturbed in mind. She was a good organizer, a strict disciplinarian, and a clever teacher-everything that is admirable, in fact, in a headmistress, from the scholastic point of view; and her vigorous, intellectual, capable personality always mad

he held a poor opinion of herself, and was more than willing to fill a secondary place; indeed, she would have been both alarmed and embarrassed if called upon to take the lead. For her elder sister she had an admiration and devotion that amounted to reverence. She cheerfully performed any tasks set her, and was perfectly content to be a kind of general help and underling, without attempting the least interference with any of the arrangements. Critical friends sometimes hinted that Miss Edith's position at Briarcroft was hardly a fair one, and that Miss P

f the pupils were day girls, and the boarders, though they gave themselves airs, were decidedly in the minority. Such was the littl

isfortune than her fault. On the first day after her arrival she betook herself to the Principal's study, and after a light tap at the door, entered confidently with a breezy "Good morning". Mis

, Gipsy?" she enqu

e to ask leave to run out and buy a pan, and some sugar, and a few other things. I reckon th

eginning, that Gipsy was likely to prove an unusual pupil

she replied. "The boarders here are neve

me because I'm new, and I'd best ask at headquarters," returned Gipsy. "I wouldn't lose my

all, Gipsy. I cannot allow

st this

eption in your case, the others

unny rule to me, because in Dorcas City we mig

here, and English speech too. You must make an effort to drop

r tart, and her mouth twitched

rls last night that I didn't know before. There was 'ripping' for one, and-what was

ton's face

e. The girls had no business to be using them

ke me a while to le

e 'guess' and 'reckon'

ed an eloq

bout that pan, please! Might the janitor go out and buy it for me? I can't make any Fudge till I g

with a glance that would have quelled Hetty Han

Fudge!" she repeated, with a sm

eton's patienc

u are here you will be expected to keep the rules of the school, or, if you break them, you will

he stood for a moment or two on the doo

ad any previous experience of English schools, but it rather appears as if this one's run on the lines of a reformatory. If I don't want to get myself into tr

a certain courage to face seventy-two critical strangers, and her past experience had taught her that a new girl on her first day is like "goods on approval", and has to run the gauntlet of public opinion. She tried to look airy and unembarrassed, and talked desperately to Lennie Chapman, who had been told off to "personally conduct" her to her Form; but all the

of the Fifth, pausing in a friendly quarrel with a Form mate to take

t we'll soon find out. Hello, you kid, what's your n

eral other things, and she's been shipwrecked dozens of times," began

I suppose she understands English, doesn't she? What's your n

th a volubility that left no doubt of her acquaintance with the English tongue. Other girls hurried up to listen, and in less than a minute she was the c

ented Mary Parsons. "Not very easy to t

ded Joyce Adamson. "Those big red bo

rumbled Maude Helm a trifle enviously. "New girls ought

one could drag a single word out of you, not even your name! Can't see

e!" snapped Maude. "She talks away

n't you? I want to he

orm's s

e's put her in t

e's Poppie

that filed from the lecture hall to the right-hand wing of the house. The preliminary part of her ordeal might be considered successfully over. Schoolgirls are quick to take likes and dislikes; with them, first impressions are everything, and a few minutes are often sufficient to decide the fate of a newcomer.

work Guild if you like. You've got to subscribe a shilling, and promise

whelmed by the honour. "I'm a bad sewer, but

ot a camera? Then I expect you'll like to belong to the Photographic Guild-the subscri

anxious interest. "If Helen Roper's spoken to you, you're sure to get on. You'll join

h, it will soon run away with on

ut then one has to join.

subscriptions if t

h fun for us. We're only Lower School,

do you

f the Sixth. They arrange everything. W

r School aren't fairly treated. The Photographic Guild spent all the society's money on a g

Lower School on the C

but we may only elect members of the Sixth.

strously

nces. "The Sixth arrange all the casts, and of course take the best pa

wer School act pl

ciety. But I can tell you we've grumbled when our subscript

u let them?" p

ugged her

ommittee arrange everything. We're supposed to be allowed to give our views at the G

listen!" said G

ting of all the Guilds on Friday week. We have to elect offic

ever, she asked many questions, and by diligently putting two and two together managed to arrive at a tolerably accurate estimate of the general state of affairs. The result caused her to shake

ver occurred to those girls to make a stand for their rights. They may support you, or they may call you an interfering busybody for your pains; you'll have to take your chance of that. With your free-bo