row, when serious work would begin at nine o'clock,
and the wheels of school life would start to turn in real earnest. This
first afternoon was regarded by most as somewhat in the nature of a
festival. It was pleasant to meet again and compare notes about the
holidays: the general change of forms lent an element of excitement,
even the new books were more or less interesting, and many minor details
gave variety to the occasion.

The gymnasium, whither all the girls were scuttling, was a
moderate-sized wooden building that had been erected, in pre-war days,
at the side of the house. It served for many purposes, and was
alternately drill-hall, concert-room, play-room, lecture-hall, art
gallery or ball-room as the case might be. This afternoon, with a fresh
coat of pink distemper, a big bowl of flowers upon the table, and the
sunshine coming through the skylight roof and shining on the
nicely-polished floor and rows of varnished forms, it looked both
business-like and attractive. The girls trooped in and took their seats.
There were a few elder ones, but the majority were between eight and
fourteen, with perhaps half a dozen kindergarten children on the front
bench. Miss Turner, standing near the piano, controlled any excess of
conversation, and reduced it to a subdued murmur. As Miss Kingsley,
brisk, smiling, and with a "Now we'll get to work!" air about her,
mounted the platform and stood to review her school, forty-two pupils
rose to their feet, and eighty-four eyes were fixed obediently upon her
face. She focused their attention for a moment, then nodding to Miss
Paget, who was seated at the piano, she announced:

"We will begin the new term as usual by singing the National Anthem."

Miss Paget struck a few chords, and then the familiar strains of "God
Save the King" rang through the room. It made a good commencement, for
new girls and even the kindergarten babies could sing it, and thus take
their part at once with the school. Forty-two voices, some fresh and
clear, and some more or less out of tune, joined heartily in the anthem,
and the girls sat down with the consciousness of having made a united
effort. Following her precedent of twelve years, Miss Kingsley had
something to say to her pupils before she made the ordinary
announcements of school arrangements.

"It's always nice to feel we're making a fresh start!" she began
cheerfully. "This is a new school year, and I want you all to join in
helping to make it