A Popular Schoolgirl

uder

interests of Wynch-on-the-Wold, focused it on school affairs instead. There was certainly need of mental concentration if she meant to make he

ok of Chronicles. "Her little finger's thicker than her whole body used to be, and, ins

derstand your meaning," laughed Verity. "The Bantam'

brutal lack of consid

y get the piano for an hour, even if I wanted it longer. It's a frightful business at the hostel to cram in all our practicing, isn't it? I nearly had a free fight with Janie Potter yesterday. She commandeered the piano, and though I showed he

Music, but a composer as well. His anthems and cantatas were widely known, he conducted the local choral society and trained the operatic society for the annual performance. His time was generally very full, so he did not profess to teach juniors; it was only after celebrating her fifteenth birthday that Ingred had been eligible as one of his pupils. He had the reputation of being peppe

not the point. I want to know how you can talk on the piano. What have you got in that folio? Beethoven? Rachman

ve to perform a test piece before so keen a critic. In spite of her most valiant efforts her hands trembled, and wrong cho

stuttering and stammering on

vidently pleased him. He always like

upon. Some people wouldn't make musicians if they practised for a hundred years. We've got to alter your touch-your technique's entirely wrong-but if you're conten

you tell me," ag

ll under two headings: those who had music in them, and those who had not. The latter, though he might drill them in technique, would never make really satisfactory pianists; the former, by dint of scol

he does with Janie. He scared me quite enough sitting by my side and saying: 'Shall we take this again now?' with a sort of grim politeness, as if he were making an effort to restrain his t

Beautiful K-K-Katie" with a lack of technique that probably would have brought h

ed her settle herself. She looked her over with the critical air that is generally bestowed on new girls, and decided that she was particularly pretty. Bess was the image of one of the Sir Joshua Reynolds' child angels in the National Gallery. The likeness was so great that her mother had always cut and curled her golden-brown hair in exact copy of the picture.

y, though I like tennis better. Have you asphalt courts here, and do you play in the winter? I a

hey had made the entire tour of the buildings, Ingred began to wonder whether, without offense, it would be possible to leave her desk, next to Verity, and sit beside Bess. There

imply adorable," conceded Nora. "I'm going t

o sweet," comm

ing!" said Ingre

in her, Ingred, considering that she

other

n't you k

ard the name of the tenants, and, as the subject was a sore one, had forborne to ask any questions at home. It was surely the irony of fate that the house should be taken by people who had a daughter of her own ag

ive herself airs, and the other girls will truckle to her no end. I know them! I wish to goodness she hadn't come to the C

gred in most friendly fashion, and looked amazement itself at the cool reception of her advances. She stared for a moment

liking her. Generosity whispered that her conduct was unjust, but at this particular stage of Ingred's evolution she did not always listen to those inner voices that act as our highest guides. Like most of us, she had a mixed character, capab

Society and the Drawing Club, and her very superior camera, beautiful color-box, and other up-to-date equipments were immensely admired. Ingred, on the outside of the enthusiastic circle, preserved a stony silence. Her own camera was three years old, and she did

We are to have the election on Friday afternoon, and e

e remotest chance!" gr

e! Cheery-ho! In my opinion you'

representative called a warden, and these, with such permanent officers as the prefects and the games captain, were to meet once a fortnight to discuss questions of self-government. It was a new experiment, and the head mistress hoped it would give the girls some idea of responsibi

d it was utterly hopeless to appeal to the prefects," said Ingred. "I alw

ech!" laughed Verity. "By the bye, will there be a 'Strangers' Gallery

the Sixth. It was nothing less than that each form should make a special fête of the affair. Lispeth Scott, the head girl, went boldly to Miss Bur

t. But if every form has its festival to elect its own warden, it will make the council seem a much more important business. We'd like to be allowed to

consented. She was a wise woman, and believed in pe

ood behavior. I shall hold you prefects responsible for controlling the school. If you hear a great noise,

and I'll leave the door of our form-room open so that I

y other qualifications should be adde

gnals of success to others farther down the corridor, and, in an almost incredibly s

going to manage our share

asks, and if we pool to tea there'll be heaps to go round, and the same with buns and cakes. We'll each bring a litt

selves on the charity of