The Leader of the Lower School

y Fo

e Cape, and it was high time that she received news from him, telling her of his whereabouts. Every morning she looked out anxiously for the post, but day after day brought the same disappointment. She was the only boarder who had no letters, and she often felt her isolated position keenly when she saw her

do live mostly at hotels when I'm not at school," she said to herself. "I'm not going to worry my head.

Gipsy began to work a pair of slippers for her father, a rather lengthy proceeding, for she was not clever at needlecraft, and was apt to pull her wool too tightly, having to unpick her stitches in consequence. There was no particular hurry in her case, though, for it was impossible for her to dispatch the parcel in time for Christmas when she did not know where to address it. If there was a forlorn look

ame off very well indeed in the matter of presents. Her home people had also remembered her, and many interesting parcels arrived for her during the course of the morning.

e exclaimed, and dived under the laurels to t

lease! It's my birthday

Don't know whether any of 'em's for

! I'll take them, ple

she thrust hastily into her coat pocket; the other two were for herself. They both contained postal orders, which elevated her to such heights of satisfaction that she never gave a thought to the letter she had stuffed in her pocket: indeed, in her

Hancock's; or I want a bracelet watch most fearfully badly, and I expect I'll get some more

child! You oughtn't to have been running about the garden. And this coat is much too thin.

k with me," objected Daisy. "It only crams up my

re some cough lozenges, and I shall rub your chest to-night with camphor

" replied Daisy, as she tripped gaily away.

e of similar garments inside a large cupboard in the linen room. It never struck her to look in the pockets, so the le

hosen as the wicked fairy, a part which she rehearsed with much spirit. She was unwearied in her efforts at arranging costumes, constructing scenery, and coaching her fellow performers in thei

ture which Gipsy considered it certainly ought to possess. Briarcroft had no

otice of coming events, and reports of what has taken place? It's such fun, too

treasurer of the United Guild. "The subscriptions don't go very far when we

g it printed. I know th

father was a journalist. "Dad always sends his articles to a typ

costumes for the play will about clear out the funds for this te

he properties of the other Guilds! They might

dn't cost us anything. My idea was to ask Miss White to lend us the duplicator, and we'd make a copy for each Form.

the Mag. would be ripping fun. We'd have articles and

a monthly?" e

ough," said Gipsy. "It would be difficult to

ions," objected Fiona, whose mind wa

ures for its own copy. That would make it all the

imed Dilys, who was immensely taken with the idea. "It would just suit the Firs

hints about the complexion, if yo

her appearance, and kept many bottles of toilet r

d have it carried through in proper order," said Hetty. "I believe it will c

ERAL M

t

ED G

on Thursday a

sing

scuss the propo

School M

particularly req

things up at Briarcroft, and were ready to listen to anything fresh she might have to suggest. As Hetty had expected, the idea was recei

said Dilys, who, as President, occupied the po

Gipsy Latimer," said Me

nd the proposal,"

laimed the girls, and a

t's a new thing in the school, so it's best managed by a new girl. We should none of

k I'm 'the man for th

suited her. She was sure she could make it a success, and she looked forward with immense satisfaction to issuing her first num

of it," said Meg Gordon. "We don't

s a nice juicy kind of sou

parture-it suggests oily words and

r magazine. She intended to conduct it on the lines of a real publication, and to keep separate pages for Sports and Pastimes, Reviews of Books, Nature Notes, How to Make Things, Handy Recipes, Puzzles, Competitions, and Letters from Corres

d some dainty illustrations, and her example was emulated by members of other Forms, who were also invited to submit articles, stories, nature notes, and puzzles. Gipsy, with the oligarchy of the Seniors fresh in her memory as a warning, did not wish the Upper Fourth to monopolize the Magazine by any means, and the younger girls were strongly urged to try their 'prentice hands at the art of composition. She herself was busy with the opening chapter of a serial, in which she intended to set forth all her adventures in the Colonies, embroidered by the aid of her imagination. Fortunately Miss White was kind, and, sympathizing wit

ay girls. Gipsy had not had time to write any book reviews, but she had enjoyed herself over the answers to correspondents. She had posted up a notice inviting letters when first the scheme for the Magazine was accepted, and quite a budget had been delivered at the "editorial office"-otherwise her school desk. Some were couched in rather a facetious vein, but she answered them as if they were intended to be serious, sometimes wit

med into poetry, and had composed an "Ode to

ry gem of Bri

o be a blessi

ting that its readers could hardly wait for the second chapter, and pressed the authoress for details of "what was coming next"; but as Gipsy had not made up any more, they were obliged to curb their impatience. Altogether the Magazine was a brilliant success; and if it lacked any

Tristram sneak into our classroom yesterday when no one was there, at dinner-time. The Mag. was lyin

exclaimed the indignant editress. "I'll undertake

nice. Ours is just too scrump