at matter a secret. The papers must
be folded, and will then be collected by some of your teachers, who have
kindly promised to count the votes. Let me mention again: I do not ask
you to choose your favourite friend, or the most popular girl in your
class, but the one who, you really think, has made the greatest effort
towards living at the highest possible level, and whose conduct you can
most honestly admire as the truest and best."

There was a rustle of astonishment among the girls at the conclusion of
Lady Carston's speech. No such prize had been offered before at The
Priory, and the novelty of the idea rather appealed to them. Half-sheets
of notepaper were handed round by Miss Hall and Miss Rowe, and Miss
Lincoln announced that five minutes would be allowed for consideration,
at the end of which time the votes must be recorded. As each girl sat
with her pencil in her hand, the thoughts of all turned to Patty.
Everybody remembered some helpful little act which she had done, some
kind thing which she had said, or an occasion when she had given up her
own way to please someone else. It was not only in the Upper Fourth that
she was appreciated, but among those who had met her at games, during
walks, or in recreation, where, without any conscious effort on her
part, her influence had had its effect on the girls, who somehow felt
the better for having known her. As Enid said afterwards in strictest
confidence to Avis:

"Patty isn't the least scrap of a prig. She never preaches or finds
fault with one, and she's just as jolly as ever she can be; and yet she
always makes one feel ashamed if one isn't doing what's absolutely
straight. I've never seen her play a nasty, mean trick, nor heard her
say anything horrid or unkind since she came; and if Lady Carston wanted
to find out the nicest girl in the school, she couldn't fix on anybody
better than Patty."

By the end of the five minutes all the papers were folded and passed
back to Miss Rowe, who retired with Miss Hall to count them, while the
singing class filled in the time with another part-song. There was much
excitement when the two teachers returned, and handed the result to Miss
Lincoln and to Lady Carston. The latter rose at once.

"I am glad to be able to tell you," she announced, "that the decision
has been almost unanimous. With the exception of only three votes, every
girl has recorded the same name. To Patty Hirst, therefore, I award this
prize, feeling sur