f "self-expression" appealed to most of the girls, and even
the little ones, who did not quite understand what it all meant, saw
visions of pleasant afternoons and possible fun in store for them. The
coming term seemed to offer prospects such as the school had never held
before. As the new members of VA filed upstairs to their form they could
not refrain from a few comments. Talking in the passages, though
repressed by the mistresses, was not absolutely on the list of
forbiddens at Kingfield High School, so the girls made discreet use of
the privilege whenever possible.

"Well! What d'you think of it all?" inquired Calla, eagerly questioning
the group nearest to her. "I call it ripping."

"Very enterprising of Tatie," conceded Kathleen graciously. "I really
shouldn't have thought her capable of it. Where's she been in the
holidays to get her ideas so shaken up? We must send her there again if
things flag."

"Bags me the orchestra," piped Aldora.

"Oh, the song-drama appeals to me!" squeaked Marjorie Johns.

"'Sh, 'sh! 'Sh, 'sh!" came from the background, as a warning that Miss
Pratt, their new form mistress, intended to insist on discipline, and
rules or no rules would not countenance a chattering rabble under her
very nose if she were obliged to act as escort. Remembering school
etiquette the girls restrained their voices in the presence of the
teacher, and falling into line marched into VA with due decorum, though
once inside the door, with Miss Pratt still outside in the passage,
there was a brief and wild scramble for the best desks, and Aldora
Dodson had almost pushed Lesbia Ferrars out of a coveted seat when the
entrance of authority restored order.

Lesbia, quite upset and panting from the fray, immediately put her books
inside the desk as a sign of possession, and scribbling her name on a
gummed label pasted it on to the lid rather ostentatiously, with an eye
of triumph in the direction of Aldora, who pretended to take no notice.
It meant much to Lesbia to secure that particular desk. She had always
marked it for her own. As a junior she had often peeped into the room
and had made up her mind that if she were ever moved so high up the
school as VA she should like to sit in the seat next the window. The
Kingfield High School did not adopt the horrible system of coating the
glass with white paint, so there was a clear and uninterrupted view over
walls, and across gardens, to the winding river and yellowing w