A Pair of Schoolgirls: A Story of School Days

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a fresh school year, and partly because the building had been altered and enlarged, many changes made in the curriculum, and many new names added to the already long list in the register. Three hundred and eighty-seven pupils had assembled that morning in the great lecture hall, the largest number on record at the College; five additional classes had been formed, and there were six extra mistresses. At the eleven o

Morris was a giantess compared with little Ruth Harmon. The six heads were bent together in closest proximity, and the six tongues were particularly active, for after t

the classrooms, flowers on the chimneypieces, a stained glass window in the lecture hall, busts on brackets all

Kennedy. "When I opened the studio door, the varnish stuck to my fingers. However, t

wall last term. Don't you remember how f

we've done with her! I'm glad teachers don't move up with their forms. I'm of the opposite opinion to Hamlet, and I'd rather

being in the Upper Fourth now,

ere's only Marjory Poulton left behind, and she won't be missed. We

class in the Lower School now, and that one of us will

he dinner-hour. I wonder if Miss Tempest has put up the list of candidates yet? I

lected round the notice board, but they elbowed their way to the front notwithstanding. Yes, the list was there, in the head mistress'

rra

gust

uck f

t call

othy Greenfield

ch of you'll promi

orporate life as a boarding school; but Miss Tempest, in spite of this difficulty, had managed to inaugurate a spirit of union among her pupils, and to make them work together for the general good of the community. She wished the College to be, not merely a place where textbooks were studied, but a central point of light on every possible subject. She encouraged the girls to have many interests outside the ordinary round of lessons, and by the help of various self-governing societies to learn to be good citizens, and to play an intellige

ledged authority, and the general leader of the rest. It was the custom to elect the warden by ballot on the afternoon of the reopening day.

tainly, but her complexion was clear, and, despite her rather thin cheeks, the outline of her face was decidedly pleasing. Her mouth was neat and firm, and her chin square; and she had a quantity of wavy, fluffy brown hair that had an obstreperous way of escaping from its ribbon and hanging over her ears. During the past six months Dorothy had shot up like Jack's beanstalk, and she was still growing fast-an awkward process, which involved a certain angularity of both body and mind. She was apt to do things by fits and starts; s

s run high. The ballot was to be taken at half-past three, which left little time for canvassing; but she meant to do the best for herself that circumstances would allow. She was a day boar

Barnett, the h

r friends to support her

olicits the favo

es upon the kindness

ur quota to the general lot? All the others are getting up their

ied Dorothy. "I should say you're fa

helped. I'm not among the elect, so I must just g

Dorothy's hand, and, scanning it

t the schoo

l look in m

oast and br

blowing my

u think in m

e suited t

I, but fon

games of o

I can ru

part, as w

all your wan

speech at

all schola

ts of the L

leader I

vote, please

verses you

for the Lower

, and wrote it on my knee under the desk. One wants something rather different fr

ommented Mavie, "

ations, or what's the use of being a candidate? Look a

t of a chance, though she did win the cup last season. One need

t's why I tr

t stuff poetry. Half o

thy's dark eyebrows as she snat

isn't so viper-critical," she retorted.

t I warn you, Dorothy, I don't

y n

how it won't catch on. If you take my advice, you'll tear i

sent included in Dorothy's scheme of existence;

answered loftily. "It can't fa

f you're going round canva

her independence by pinning the offending verses on the notice board, she stalked away, trying to look nonchalant. She was d

e election is only among the Third and Fourth! It would be terrible if one had to go all round the school. Why, I never asked Mavie! How stupid! But she's certa

instead to beat up possible electors. She was not the first in the field, by any means. Already Valentine Barnett and her satellites were hard at work coaxing and wheedling, while the emissaries of

them. She's actually put her arm round that odious little Maggie Muir, and taken Nell Boughton on her knee! I shoul

an task, and time fled all too quickly. She used what powers of persuasion she possessed, and flattered herself that she had made an impression in some quarters; but very few of the girls

ay for yourselves," said Kitty Palgrave condescendingly

tween you," added Ellie Simpson

a snub. As it was, she pocketed her pride, and merely said she hoped they would remember her. She h

get returned Warden," she reflected. "All the same, it's si

mber of other girls stood near the notice board talking, and reading the appeals of the various candidates. Dorothy strolled up to see

!" exclaimed

e show, does she?" s

lovely!" gushe

giggled Phyllis Fowler. "Hallo, Dor

Joyce is on Val's side. If you like, I'll canvass for you here, while you do the gym. You'd better n

own classmates. They were all sucking enormous peppermint "humbugs", and were almost speechless in consequence

th difficulty. "You should have asked us soo

e contest, and of course we plumped

ly ripping

aimed Dorothy scornfully. "Val h

int 'humbugs'? I call them a ve

give yo

o High Street and bought a whole pound. Lucky

everybody," added Helen Wal

s put on a colour. She could

bribery, pure and simple. I didn't think Val was capable of such a sne

ked," laughed Elsie. "It's not too late now. I

give your votes on better grounds than 'humbugs' or caram

s for us," giggle

on't care whether a candidate

if she's

you haven't a higher ideal of what's required in

, Dorothy!" c

eedy things! There isn't one of you with a spark of public spir

ts, decamped at a run, leaving her to address a group of empty chairs. She followed more leisurely, fuming as she went. She knew

y doesn't matter, after all, they're only a minority. I expect it will prove a v