declared Lispeth encouragingly. "Bess, we shall want
you again for school concerts. You and Ingred ought to practise
together. Let me look at your violin. I wish _I_ could play like that!"

"Thanks ever so much!" murmured Bess to Ingred, as the latter got up
from the piano.

"Oh! it's all right!" replied Ingred airily, moving away in a hurry to
the other side of the room. She did not want Bess to take up Lispeth's
no doubt well meant but rather embarrassing suggestion that they should
practise together, and was quite ready with an excuse if it should be
proposed.

"It's the turn of the Sixth now," she jodelled.

"VB. haven't done anything yet; I'll call one of them in," said
Lispeth, stepping out to the landing.

Once through the door, however, her ears were assailed by such an
absolute din proceeding from the farther end of the corridor, that she
dropped her character of impresario for the duties of head-girl, and
calling two of her fellow prefects, went to investigate the cause of the
disturbance. She returned in a short time, looking flushed and flurried.

"It's those wretched kids in IVB.," she proclaimed. "They were
behaving disgracefully, pelting each other with the remains of their
buns, and fencing with rulers. And they actually had the cheek to tell
me they weren't making any more noise than we were with our singing and
playing! I sent them home at once, and I think we'd all better go too.
Those intermediates always overstep the line if they've an atom of a
chance. I told them what I thought about them. It's been quite a ripping
concert, and I'm sorry to break it up, but you understand, don't you?"

"Rather!" replied the others, as they began their exodus into the
corridor.

CHAPTER VI

The School Parliament

During the excitement of the concert Ingred had hardly time to realize
the greatness of the honor thrust upon her in being chosen as warden to
represent her form. All it stood for struck her afterwards.

"My word! You'll have to sit up and behave yourself after this, Madame!"
remarked Quenrede, when she mentioned the matter at home.

"Yes, of course they'll all look to you now as an example!" added
Mother.

"Oh, I don't think they will!" declared Ingred, who had not considered
her new office from that point of view. "I've just to speak up for the
interests of the form, you know."

"There are obligations as well as interests," said Mother seriously.
"Try to make VA. a useful facto