, mindful of their dignity, generally held themselves aloof,
so it was indeed a triumph for Gwen to be seized upon, after the
meeting was over, by Bessie Manners, and consulted upon the general
working of the scheme. To walk down the corridor linked arm in arm
with the head girl was a distinction that fell to few, and Gwen,
though she accepted the honour with apparent unconsciousness, knew
perfectly well that it would make an enormous difference to her
position in the school. For the moment she was talked about. Her plan
for the cot was called "Gwen Gascoyne's scheme", and to her was given
the entire credit for originating it. The more the idea was discussed,
the more everybody liked it. The mistresses sympathized heartily, and
the Juniors promised earnest co-operation. Gwen, for once, was
appreciated to her heart's content. It was wonderful how gracious the
prefects were towards her, and how the members of her own Form
suddenly treated her with respect. After so long a period of
unpopularity it was very sweet to find general opinion had thus veered
round, and Gwen enjoyed her new character of organizer to the full.
She threw herself heart and soul into the working of her scheme, and
thanks partly to her parish experience at Skelwick, and partly to a
practical element in her composition, she was able to give really good
and helpful advice, both as to the collecting of the fund, and the
arranging of the gymkhana. There was very little time before the day
of the anniversary, so those in authority were obliged to push matters
as fast as they could. Each girl in the school begged in her own
circle most assiduously, and from the reports that began to be
circulated the result seemed most encouraging.

"I believe we're going to get the L100 just by collecting, and that
the gymkhana will be extra," said Bessie Manners exultingly. "By the
by, Miss Roscoe wishes it to be known that she would much prefer not
to be offered a private testimonial, but that everything should go
towards the cot."

"Oh, we wanted to give her some remembrance, though," cried several of
the girls, rather disappointed.

"I'd set my heart on her having a silver teapot at least," said Iris
Watson.

"It's just like Miss Roscoe not to want anything personal," said
Gwen. "I must say I admire her for it. She always reminds me of an
ancient Roman--the State first and foremost in her estimation, and
herself nowhere."

"Yes, she'd sacrifice a good deal for t