up for her age. She was the
youngest member of a large family who had made enormous exertions during
the war, and, with sisters who had nursed in Serbia, driven
motor-ambulances in France, served in canteens, in Y. M. C. A. huts, and
worked at munitions, she had excellent examples of what it is possible
to do for one's country. She was a decided favorite in the College,
being athletic as well as clever, and of a very jolly merry temperament
with a vein of great earnestness. Though the girls sometimes called her
"Jumbo," they meant the nickname in token of friendship, and submitted
to her dictatorship far more readily than they would have done to that
of any other member of the Sixth who had been put in her place. Miss
Burd had great confidence in Lispeth, and consequently, when they had
talked over the matter of the new society which she wished to be formed
in the school, she decided to leave its institution entirely in the
hands of her head girl.

"It will be far better for the mistresses not to be present at the
meeting," she said. "I can trust you, Lispeth, to explain things, and
the girls will like it much more if it seems to emanate from the new
Council. Talk to them in your own way, and they'll understand you. I
want the Society to be an absolutely voluntary one, or it's of no use.
Don't let them think they must join merely to please _me_. I'd rather
have a dozen who are in earnest over it than a hundred half-hearted
members. Only those who feel enthusiastic need give in their names. I
don't mind if it begins in quite a humble way. Indeed, I only expect a
small membership at first."

"On the contrary, Miss Burd, I think it will catch on," replied Lispeth.

In consequence of this conversation, the head prefect pinned a paper on
the notice-board, convening a general meeting of all girls over twelve
years of age, to be held in the big hall on Wednesday afternoon at 3:30
sharp, the last lesson of the day having been remitted by orders from
the Study. There was a universal feeling that something important was on
foot, so those forms that were eligible trooped in a body to the hall,
while the disappointed juniors tried to console themselves with the
reflection that they would be able to go home half an hour earlier than
their elders. After considerable shuffling about, places were taken.
Unwilling to waste further time, Lispeth mounted the platform, and rang
the bell for silence.

"Are we all here? Well, I can't wai