A Popular Schoolgirl

fth-fo

d made their exit, leaving the building for once in the sole possession of the pupils. Miss Strong, indeed, who disapproved of the whole business, took the precaution of locking her desk before her departure, a proceeding which provoked ind

ing first, the el

the

s first and plea

e till I've

too

We're most of u

Have tea first, then the election, and then some fun aft

what happens afterwards, so

ater, leading the way towards the cloak

her forms, bent on a like errand, and exchange

ot jam t

e as our ch

ht a whole poun

swap with us f

d just t

en has fiv

e've got

e hostel need have had no fear of scarcity, for the others had brought ample to compensate for their deficiency. By general consent all the cakes were pooled, set out on hard-backed exercise books in lieu of plates, and handed round the company. Bess, whose bask

't know what she's missing!" remarked

much fun if the Snark had stayed! Don't

bably half-way down town at present, having

a better tea th

meringue is absolutely topping!

gone, every

d lu

. Cakes disappeared like snow in summer, and chocolate boxes, passed round impartially, soon returned empty to their owners. When everything seemed almost finished, Bess produc

d wants you all to sha

and of the head-gardener. She had not tasted one of them for five years, for during the war they had always been given to the patients in the Red Cross Hospital, but she could not forget their delicious flavor. Why had her father let the vinery with the house? The grapes ought to be hers to give away-not this girl's.

icio

ed better i

tely to

to go and live

e exact

u're not ea

hurriedly. "I don't indeed. I've had enou

t want them, they won't g

of the fact that she would have done exactly the same in her place, had she been fortunate enough to have the opportunity. Bess, looking shy, and

she asked. "Time's getting o

or silence, and constituting herself spokeswoman for the occasion. "You know what we've met here for-to choose a warden to represent us on the School Counci

second that!

, those i

the air that (though in strict order) it se

e aga

, so without further discuss

aid Nora, patting the

e a walk over, old spo

verybody had agreed to choose you, so it was re

having a ballot

ght like Kilkenny cats o

labaloo in several of

Ingred. "I suppose I ought to make a spe

always make speeches to their constituents. Here, take the Snark's desk as

ymen, lend me your ears!

ng her audience, made a valiant attempt at oratory. With cheeks aglow, and dark eyes shining li

upted Francie.) "Of course I know it won't all be plain sailing, and that the Sixth need a great deal of sticking up to over many matters." ("That's so!" came from the front desk.) "But perhaps they'll be prepared to talk things over now, and make some concessions." ("Time they d

yourself, Madam Warden, so I warn you! You're not going to be let off, don't you think it! Silence! Ladies and gentlemen, the first item on the

gred, as the prospective au

. "I guess we'll take sparks out

rary visitor, placed there for convenience while some repairs were being done to a leaking gas-pipe in one of the music rooms. It's an ill wind, however, that blows nobody good, and i

ing! I can't indeed!" s

ard you play dozens-yes, dozens!-of things withou

ak down, I k

e beginning. Fire away, and don

their desks. Ingred wisely did not venture on anything too classical, but tried a bright "Spanish Ballade," and managed to get successfully to the end of it without any breakdown. In the midst of

n and gone and done n

Ingred guiltily, slipp

tly one of conciliation, and not of reproof. Th

Lilias Ashby, "that we might as well come and join you,

Va. politely and unanimously. "We're ju

ou don'

bit o

nie then, Susie, and ask

accomplished. The hostesses, somewhat overwhelmed, seated the distinguished guests to the best of their abil

ause I promised Miss Burd not to let those intermediate

company with popular selections of the day, to which they chanted the choruses. She h

, and, through the open door, peered the interested faces

in?" they ask

like. Anybody who performs can join the show, but that's all. I'll tell you when it's your turn. It's Va.

indeed! I'll tell you what-Bess Haselford plays the violin, and, what's mo

Chianti this afternoon, that's why I h

cie!" ordered Lispeth.

leather case to its owner. Bess, looking flustered a

ening a folio, "so you've no excuse for saying you can't rem

d do it far better," pr

no re

il

to save

nd don't waste time!

e prelude. When the first strains of the violin joined in, her musical ear recognized immediately that Bess's playing was of a very high quality. The tone was pure, the notes were perfectly in tune, and there was a ringing sweetness, a crisp power of expression, and a haunting pathos in the rendering of the melody that showed the performer to be capable of interpreting the composer's meaning. In spite of her disinclination, Ingred w

hen the girls, inside and outsid

nt you again for school concerts. You and Ingred ought to practise t

red Bess to Ingred, as the l

. She did not want Bess to take up Lispeth's no doubt well meant but rather embarrassing suggesti

of the Sixth no

'll call one of them in," said Li

corridor, that she dropped her character of impresario for the duties of head-girl, and calling two of her fellow pr

he cheek to tell me they weren't making any more noise than we were with our singing and playing! I sent them home at once, and I think we'd all better go too. Those intermediates always

ers, as they began their