p in other
ways. Miss Poppleton, who examined a copy, expressed her entire
approval, and the teachers greatly encouraged the girls to persevere and
continue this new branch of the Guild. The Seniors affected to ignore
the whole affair.

"But that's just put on," said Hetty Hancock. "They know all about it. I
saw Helen Roper and Doreen Tristram sneak into our classroom yesterday
when no one was there, at dinner-time. The Mag. was lying on Miss
White's desk, and they took it up and began to read it. They simply
shrieked with laughing."

"What cheek! Let them write one of their own then!" exclaimed the
indignant editress. "I'll undertake to say it wouldn't be half as
interesting as ours!"

"Not one ten-millionth part as nice. Ours is just too scrumptiously
ripping!" agreed Hetty.

CHAPTER IX

Gipsy grows Anxious

GIPSY spent the Christmas holidays at Briarcroft. Miss Poppleton went
away to Switzerland, to refresh her tired mind with the winter sports;
but Miss Edith stayed behind, to count linen, and superintend workmen
who were making some alterations in the bathrooms. She and Gipsy managed
to enjoy themselves in a quiet manner, but the latter hailed the return
of her schoolfellows with considerable relief. The house seemed so big
and silent and lonely without its usual lively crew of boarders, and the
dormitory with its empty beds oppressed her. Miss Poppleton came back
more brisk and bustling than ever, and was at once immersed in the
business of interviewing parents and rearranging school affairs, and in
the thousand and one cares that always occupied her at the beginning of
term.

When about ten days had gone by, and Briarcroft had settled down into
its ordinary routine, she sent a message to Gipsy to report herself in
the study. Gipsy obeyed with a feeling of considerable apprehension.
Miss Poppleton's manner towards her, never very gracious, had been
markedly cold since the Christmas holidays. For some reason she was
evidently much out of favour. She tapped more deferentially at the study
door, and entered less confidently than she had done on the morning
after her arrival. A term at Briarcroft had taught her many lessons. The
Principal was seated at her desk, studying an account book, and to judge
from the jerking movements of her mouth, she was in a state of mind
quite the reverse of amiable.

"Gipsy Latimer," she began uncompromisingly, "I've sent for you to
enquire if you've heard anything at