special domain its officers are of quite as
much importance as Members of Parliament, and wield an influence and an
authority comparable to that of Cabinet Ministers. Tyrannies, struggles
for freedom, minor corruptions, and hot debates have their places here
as well as in the wider world of politics, and many an amateur "Home
Rule Bill" is defeated or carried according to the circumstances of the
case. At Briarcroft Hall there had hitherto existed a pure oligarchy, or
government of the few. The Sixth Form had jealously kept the reins in
their own hands, and, while granting a few privileges to the Fifth, had
denied the slightest right of interference to the Lower School. So far,
though the Juniors had grumbled continually, they had never taken any
steps to redress their grievances. Here and there one of them would
offer an indignant protest, which was treated with scorn by the Seniors,
and things would go on again in the old unsatisfactory fashion.

Gipsy, with the unbiased judgment of an entirely new-comer, had formed
her opinion of the Briarcroft code, and deeming reform necessary, set to
work to preach a crusade. She expounded her views to Hetty Hancock,
Lennie Chapman, and a few other sympathizers, and organized a plan of
campaign.

"What we want to do is to combine," she announced. "It's not the
slightest scrap of good a few single girls going and airing their woes
to the Sixth. They're not likely to listen. If we could show them that
the whole of the Lower School is one big united body, pledged to
resist,--well, they'd just have to give way."

"All the lower Forms feel the same," said Hetty. "I was speaking to the
Third about it this morning."

"How are we going to begin?" asked Lennie.

"We must call a mass meeting of Juniors, and put the thing to them
fairly and squarely," said Gipsy. "Explain what we want, and draw up a
programme of what we mean to do, then see if they'll give their
support."

"Best lose no time about it, then. I'll post up notices at once, and
we'll have a meeting at two o'clock to-morrow afternoon in the
play-room. It's no use letting the grass grow under our feet. Have you a
pencil and a scrap of paper there, Lennie? Give them to me, and I'll
make a rough draft. How will this do, do you think?

"'A Mass Meeting of all Members of the Lower
School will be held in the Junior Play-room on
Wednesday at 2 p.m. prompt. Business: To consider
the quest