w monstrously unfair!"

"It's just as bad in the Dramatic," continued Hetty, airing her
grievances. "The Sixth arrange all the casts, and of course take the
best parts for themselves, and only give us Juniors little, unimportant
bits."

"But don't the Lower School act plays by themselves?"

"They haven't, so far; you see, it's always been one big Society. But I
can tell you we've grumbled when our subscriptions have all gone to buy
wigs and costumes for the Sixth."

"But why do you let them?" protested Gipsy.

Hetty shrugged her shoulders.

"How are we going to prevent it, when we've no voice in the matter? I
told you the Committee arrange everything. We're supposed to be allowed
to give our views at the General Meeting, but it's the merest farce--the
Sixth won't condescend to listen to us."

"I'd make them listen!" said Gipsy indignantly.

"You'd better try, then!" laughed Hetty. "It's the Annual Meeting of all
the Guilds on Friday week. We have to elect officers for the year. I
should like to see you tackle Helen Roper!"

Gipsy turned away without further comment. Her past experience of
schools had taught her that it was unwise to begin by criticizing
well-worn institutions too soon. During the next few days, however, she
asked many questions, and by diligently putting two and two together
managed to arrive at a tolerably accurate estimate of the general state
of affairs. The result caused her to shake her head. Though she said
little, like the proverbial parrot she thought the more, and her
thoughts gradually shaped themselves into a plan of action. At the end
of a week she faced the situation.

"Look here, Gipsy Latimer!" she said to herself, "there are abuses in
this school that need reforming. Somebody's got to take the matter up,
and I guess it's your mission to do it! I don't believe it's ever
occurred to those girls to make a stand for their rights. They may
support you, or they may call you an interfering busybody for your
pains; you'll have to take your chance of that. With your free-born
democratic standards, it's impossible for you to sit still and see
things go on as they are. This annual meeting's your opportunity, so
you'd best pluck up your courage and nerve yourself for the fray."

CHAPTER IV

A Mass Meeting

A LARGE school is a state in miniature. Quite apart from the rule of the
mistresses, it has its own particular institutions and its own system of
self-government. In their