yet
whether she can act, and we don't want to admit members who can't speak
up, and who turn their backs upon the audience!"

"I can answer for it that she wouldn't do that," said Cathy, flushing
rather indignantly.

"How do you know? Don't be absurd, Cathy Winstanley! We're not going to
spoil the society to oblige you, or anybody else. Besides, ten members
are quite enough if we want to give parts to each, and I, for one,
sha'n't consent to any more being brought in."

The committee seemed inclined to take Ernestine's view of the matter,
and, the bell ringing for prayers, the meeting broke up in confusion.

"I'm so sorry!" said Cathy, squeezing my hand as we went up the stairs
together. "I'm sure you can act. I can see it in your face. They would
certainly have elected you if it hadn't been for Ernestine. Never mind,
you'll get your chance later, and then you must show them what you can
do."

Lucy and I went to bed that night feeling as if it were years since we
had left home, so much seemed to have happened already in the short time
we had been at school.

"There are two things I'm quite certain of," I remarked, as we discussed
the day's doings while we brushed and plaited our hair. "I shall dislike
Ernestine Salt exceedingly, but I've simply fallen in love with
Catherine Winstanley."

CHAPTER IV

THE HOLLIES

"I have had playmates, I have had companions,
In my days of childhood, in my joyful school-days."

I was happy at school, though the work was hard and the discipline
strict. When I try to recall our system of education, I think it must
have been somewhat unique, for it was an endeavour to combine the very
best points of a thoroughly modern course of study with the rigid rules
and exemplary behaviour of a past generation. We learnt mathematics at
The Hollies, but we curtsied to our teachers as we left the room; we had
chemistry classes in a well-fitted laboratory, but we were taught the
most exquisite darning and the finest of open hem-stitch; we played
cricket, hockey, and all modern games, but we used backboards and were
made to walk round the school-room balancing books upon our heads, to
learn to hold ourselves erect; we had the best of professors for
languages and literature, and we were taught to receive visitors
graciously, to dispense afternoon tea, arrange flowers, and to write and
answer invitations correctly.

It was the summer term. Each morning the great school bell ro