and as she was an older girl than
myself, and had also been longer in the school, she was able to carry
her point. They had arranged to act the casket scene from the "Merchant
of Venice", and Cathy, who was one of their brightest members, had been
chosen for the role of Portia. As she had no secrets from me, I helped
her every day to study her part, and we went over it so often and so
constantly, that in the end I knew it as well as she did herself. She
was to wear a dress of rose-coloured sateen, with a crimson sash and
lace collar, and gold ornaments in her hair, and to carry a large fan of
peacocks' feathers in her hand. Mrs. Winstanley had sent the costume
from Marshlands, and we unpacked the large cardboard box in much
curiosity and excitement.

"Let me see it on you, Philippa dear," said Cathy, as, after a private
rehearsal in her bedroom to try the effect, I helped her to remove the
gorgeous gown. "I can tell much better what it looks like on someone
else. Ah! it fits you exactly! I knew it would! And the sequins twist so
prettily in your hair! Will you go through the scene just as you are?
and I'll take Bassanio's speeches. Real actresses always have an
under-study, I believe, so I'm going to pretend that you're mine."

The acting, however, was only a part of the excitement of the
breaking-up day. The results of the examinations were to be read out,
and, as a special encouragement to the literature classes, Mrs. Marshall
had offered a prize for the best original poem contributed by any girl
in the school. We had written essays on various subjects, and even short
stories, but verses made quite a new departure, and to most of our
companions it seemed an almost impossible competition.

"It's not the slightest use my trying," said Janet. "I'm a plain, prosy,
matter-of-fact kind of a person. I couldn't even compose a nursery rhyme
if my life depended upon it. You and Cathy are the poetical geniuses of
the school, and we shall expect to hear something very inspired."

I was fond of scribbling, and had always had rather a turn for
versifying, so I thought I should like to compete for the prize. It did
not seem very easy to choose a suitable subject, and I covered sheets of
exercise-paper with my effusions, varying from sentimental to humorous,
according to my frame of mind. I tried to keep my secret, but the other
girls suspected my efforts, and I came in for a good deal of chaff.

"Is Pegasus pretty strong on the