ude speak, then!" shouted a band of sympathizers from the
opposition.

Maude, who had waxed warm, was only too ready to speak, and seized upon
the opportunity.

"I want to know," she demanded aggressively, "why one girl expects to
take the top seat in this school, and dictate what's to be done all
round? Newcomers used to be kept in the background, but it seems all
that's changed now. However, if new girls are the fashion, Leonora
Parker's newer still, and why shouldn't she be editress?"

"Because she couldn't!" piped somebody.

"Who's that says she couldn't?" shouted Gladys.

"Give her a chance to try!" called out Alice O'Connor.

"Likely!"

"You want to try yourself, I suppose!"

"Look here, we don't want everything turned topsy-turvy to suit a few
like you."

"Order! Order!" cried Dilys again--a very necessary command, for the
members were growing excited, and instead of stating their proposals in
the orthodox, conventional language which they prided themselves upon
always using at meetings, were descending to personalities.

"Oh, do let me speak! I'll give it them hot!" begged Hetty. But Meg
Gordon had already caught the President's eye, and began:

"If this is to be a representative meeting, it's time some reply was
made to Maude Helm's insinuations. The main object of Maude's remarks
seems to be to cast a slur upon Gipsy Latimer, and to imply that she's
taken an unfair advantage in coming to the fore. Every girl in this room
knows that Gipsy Latimer refused the Presidency of the Guild, and only
accepted the editorship because it was forced upon her. Did any one of
those who are so ready to run the Magazine now it's started think of
originating it? Of course they didn't! It was Gipsy, and Gipsy alone,
who suggested the idea, drew up the plan, asked for contributions, and
made the thing the success it is. There isn't another girl at Briarcroft
who could have done it, or if there is, why didn't she? Where's your
gratitude? Gipsy got us our own Guild, and the _Journal's_ the organ of
the Guild. She's the only one who's really qualified to be editress. I
ask you, do you think anyone else could do it equally well? No, you know
very well they couldn't, and wouldn't take the trouble either!"

"Hear, hear!" shouted a number of voices, as Meg stopped from sheer lack
of breath.

"I thought this meeting was to be conducted in strict order!" sneered
Maude. "I made a proposal a while ago, and instead of its bein