ripping," lisped Ermie
Hall, a short fat girl, whose speech, in spite of the persistent efforts
of the elocution mistress, still clung to the "lal" of her childhood.

"_You!_ Are we to have a chorus of corn-crakes?" hinnied Cissie Hales,
who never spared her comments.

"We can choose what we like I suppose?" flared Ermie.

"No we can't altogether. There's to be a selection for song-drama.
Theodora told me so. Miss Bates is to weed out the bad voices and pick a
decent caste."

"A good thing too--for those who'll have to listen at Christmas,"
commented Aldora. "The audience ought to have _some_ consideration shown
to it."

"It would be hateful to choose song-drama and then be turned down,"
ventured Bernadine Molyneaux.

"Unthinkable," agreed Lesbia. "I know my voice is nothing, and I've not
much ear for music (though I love it), so it's no use my playing out of
tune in the orchestra. I'm going in hot and strong for Art on Tuesday
afternoons. I shall put my name down for it. Here goes!"

"Are you absolutely sure?" warned Cissie, mock-tragically, as Lesbia,
pencil in hand, approached the list. "Remember it's like getting
married, and you can't change your mind. It's a case of 'say it now or
hereafter for ever hold your peace!' When once you're wedded to the Arts
class you may find you're 'mated to a clown' as Tennyson puts it. 'Be
wise in time, O Lesbia mine!' Don't sacrifice your beautiful youth upon
the Altar of Arts. Music woos you round the corner!"

"And would soon throw me overboard," laughed Lesbia. "Be thankful you'll
have me as audience at Christmas. You want somebody, I suppose, to come
and clap the performance. There now! My name's the first on the 'Altar
of Arts' as you call it. Who else is going to have a good time on
Tuesday afternoons in the studio?"

Lizzie Logan, Connie Blakeley, Aldora Dodson, and Laura Berkshaw at once
followed Lesbia's lead, and Ermie Hall after a lingering look at the
music list also signed her name under the heading of Art.

There still remained the choice of the intellectual hobby for Friday
afternoons. Here Miss Tatham had allowed two subjects to be linked
together, and from among them Lesbia selected 'Nature Study' and
'Antiquities'. She liked old houses and old customs, and the prospect of
collecting the City's legends interested her.

Tuesday and Friday afternoons were now held to be the landmarks of the
week. The school orchestra, which before had languished and almo