ould not touch one of
them. She hated Bess for having brought them to school, quite
irrespective of the fact that she would have done exactly the same in
her place, had she been fortunate enough to have the opportunity. Bess,
looking shy, and anxious to evade the thanks that poured in upon her,
bundled the hamper away under the desk again, and made a palpable effort
to change the subject.

"What about this election?" she asked. "Time's getting on. It's after
half-past four."

"Good night! Have we been all that time feeding? Here, girls, if you've
_quite_ finished, let's get to business," said Avis, rapping on her desk
as a signal for silence, and constituting herself spokeswoman for the
occasion. "You know what we've met here for--to choose a warden to
represent us on the School Council. Well, I feel we couldn't do better
than send up Ingred Saxon. She'd look after our interests all right, if
anybody would. I beg to propose Ingred Saxon."

"And I beg to second that!" called Nora.

"Hands up, those in favor!"

Such a forest of arms immediately waved in the air that (though in
strict order) it seemed hardly necessary for Avis to call out:

"Those against!"

No opposition hands appeared, so without further discussion the election
was carried.

"Congrats, Ingred!" said Nora, patting the heroine on the back.

"I told you it would be a walk over, old sport!" whispered Verity.

"We'd talked it over beforehand, you see, and everybody had agreed to
choose you, so it was really only a matter of form," explained Francie.

"The Sixth are having a ballot," put in Jess.

"And VB. are going to fight like Kilkenny cats over Magsie and Barbara."

"There'll be some hullabaloo in several of the forms, I expect."

"Thanks awfully for electing me," replied Ingred. "I suppose I ought to
make a speech, but I really don't know what to say!"

"You've got to say it all the same!" laughed Verity. "Members of
Parliament always make speeches to their constituents. Here, take the
Snark's desk as your thingumgig--rostrum, or whatever it's called, and
begin your jaw-wag!"

"Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears!" squeaked Kitty
Saunders.

Pushed forward by a dozen hands, Ingred found herself occupying the
mistress's place, and, facing her audience, made a valiant attempt at
oratory. With cheeks aglow, and dark eyes shining like stars, she looked
an attractive little figure, and a bright and suitable leader for the
form.