ertainly began to treat her as a
favorite. She was asked at once to join the Photographic Society and the
Drawing Club, and her very superior camera, beautiful color-box, and
other up-to-date equipments were immensely admired. Ingred, on the
outside of the enthusiastic circle, preserved a stony silence. Her own
camera was three years old, and she did not possess materials for
oil-painting. She thought it quite unnecessary for Verity to want to
look at Bess's paraphernalia. Verity, who was a kind-hearted little
soul, perhaps divined the cause of her chum's glumness, for she came
presently and took Ingred's arm.

"I've something to tell you, Ingred," she whispered. "We are to have the
election on Friday afternoon, and everybody's saying you'll be chosen
warden for the form."

"Don't suppose I've the remotest chance!" grunted Ingred gloomily.

"Nonsense! Don't be a blue-bottle! Cheery-ho! In my opinion you'll just
have an easy walk over."

With the removal into the new building, Miss Burd had instituted many
innovations and changes. Among the most important of these was the
College Council, which really served as a sort of House of Parliament
for the school. Each form among the seniors and intermediates was to
elect a representative called a warden, and these, with such permanent
officers as the prefects and the games captain, were to meet once a
fortnight to discuss questions of self-government. It was a new
experiment, and the head mistress hoped it would give the girls some
idea of responsibility, and train them to understand civic duties later
on. The girls themselves voted it a "ripping" idea. They took it up most
enthusiastically. It would be fun to have elections, and it seemed
desirable that there should be a warden to look after the interests of
each separate form.

"When I was in the Fourth we never got a chance for the tennis courts,
and it was utterly hopeless to appeal to the prefects," said Ingred. "I
always used to feel there ought to be some way of making one's voice
heard."

"Well, if you're elected, you'll have a chance to make your maiden
speech!" laughed Verity. "By the bye, will there be a 'Strangers'
Gallery, so that we can come and listen to you? I'd be sorry to miss the
fun!"

Friday afternoon had been fixed for the election, and a bright idea
originated in VA., circulated through the school, and finally
crystallized in the Sixth. It was nothing less than that each form
should make a speci