ck, and caught the eyes of at least a dozen of
those foundationers whom she had pitied and helped and been jolly with.
She looked to the right then, and met as many more faces of girls whom
she knew, and who were members of the Wild Irish Girls' Society. Then
very calmly she resumed her nonchalant attitude in the front row of the
schoolgirls. Miss Ravenscroft meanwhile stood waiting. Still no one
spoke.

"Will no one speak?" she said. "Will no girl present be brave enough to
save the school?"

Still there was silence.

"This is a very good and a great school," said Miss Ravenscroft. "It
gives for a very trifling sum an education worthy of the very best and
most expensive schools in England. It was founded some hundred years
ago, by those who thought much and in advance of their time. In an age
when girls were almost uneducated, when nothing further was required
from them than a smattering of reading and writing, these wise and
far-seeing people said that they would give the girls of the future a
chance. So they left money for the purpose, and that money, wisely
invested, has borne fruit. The great school was built, and has for
generations helped many girls who otherwise might not have been able to
earn their own bread. Even for the paying girls the expense for all they
receive is but a trifle. But the school does more than that. It was the
wish of the founders that there should always be one hundred
foundationers on the school lists, and these girls are admitted free;
they pay nothing in hard cash for what they receive. They are taught
liberally; they have the best rooms, the best laboratories; the best
music, the best art, are supplied to them. If they have talent they have
every chance of bringing it to the fore, for the education is thorough
and generous. But the school does even more than this. It opens up
scholarships--many scholarships--of great value for those special girls
who call themselves foundationers. Now my dear girls of the Great
Shirley School, you must clearly understand that no establishment of
this kind can be worked except on certain lines, and these lines mean
order, method, and obedience. Rules must be made, and these rules at any
cost must be obeyed. These rules are made not only to enable the girls
to get the best possible education out of the school, but also that the
greater education of mind and heart, which alone can build up a fine and
useful character, may not be neglected. That sort of