ided to divide the
prize between them. They are 'The Ballad of Fair Fiona', by Catherine
Winstanley, and 'When Celia Passes', by Philippa Seaton. As I am sure
you will all wish to hear them, I shall read them aloud:

"THE BALLAD OF FAIR FIONA

"When the daylight gilds the sky,
Fair Fiona sits and weeps;
When the evening star is high,
Lonely still her vigil keeps.

"'Rise, Fiona sweet, arise!
Don your robe of brightest hue.
Tears are but for aged eyes,
Love and pleasure wait for you!'

"'Love for me has long been dead,
Pleasure followed in his train;
Bring the willow wreath instead,
Leave me to my tears again.'

"Knight and squire and dame are there
Priests beside the altar wait,
Frets and fumes the bridegroom fair.
Wherefore is the bride so late?

"Sought they far and sought they wide
Where the river seeks the west;
Floating on its flowing tide,
Fair Fiona is at rest."

"WHEN CELIA PASSES

"When Celia passes through the grove
And down the verdant alleys,
The lily droops her envious head,
The rose for jealous anger's red
As in the shade she dallies.
And when her dainty footsteps rove
Over the meadow grasses,
The flowers all weep in sheer despair
To think they are not half so fair
When Celia passes.

"When Celia passes through the grove,
Under the bay and laurel,
The nightingale forgets to sing,
And silent sits with quivering wing
To hear her artless carol.
When cherry blooms their treasure-trove
Rain down in fragrant masses,
My heart leaps high to think perchance
I yet may catch one kindly glance
When Celia passes."

Cathy gripped my hand, and I gripped hers. We had each secretly hoped
that the other would win the prize, so to share it between us was a
satisfaction to us both. The girls clapped vigorously, and Janet started
a cheer.

"That will do!" said Mrs. Marshall. "Catherine and Philippa have done
well, but we must not turn their heads by overpraising them. They are
not Mrs. Brownings yet, by any means! It is encouraging, however, to
find that the literature classes have been of some help in teaching you
the rules of poetical composition, and you will appreciate real poetry
all the more after your attempts to frame verses for yourselves. I have
much pleasure in presenting Catherine Winstanley w