mongst ourselves, and have decided that, if
we're denied our just rights, we'll withdraw our subscriptions and found
Guilds of our own. Am I voicing the public opinion?"

"Yes, yes!" roared the Juniors.

"Put it to the vote!"

"Have it in black and white!"

"We'll settle it to-day!"

Gipsy's ultimatum was so utterly unexpected that the Seniors looked at
one another as if an earthquake had occurred. They had imagined it was
all "bluff" on the part of the younger girls, and that they were quite
incapable of enforcing their demands. This sudden mutiny was a crisis
such as had never risen before.

"Hadn't we better yield a point, and let them have one or two candidates
of their own?" suggested Lena Morris hastily.

"Certainly not! It would be the greatest mistake to give way. Leave me
to deal with them," said Helen, and turning on the Juniors with flashing
eyes, she poured forth her scorn.

"Guilds of your own, indeed! Nice Guilds they'd be! Why, the meetings
would be bear gardens. What do you know about how to conduct a Society?
When I was a Junior I trusted to the wisdom of the Seniors, instead of
listening to every newcomer who talked frothy nonsense. I tell you, it
is the monitresses who are your best friends, and who can decide what's
good for you. Are you going to change the whole of our Briarcroft
organizations at the bidding of a girl who has only been in the school
ten days?"

The latter part of Helen's argument appealed to a few who were jealous
of Gipsy's influence, but the greater number broke out in indignant
protest.

"Friends indeed!"

"Pretty friends!"

"Tyrants, more likely!"

"We'll see about bear gardens!"

"We won't be sat upon by a clique!"

These and other remarks were shouted in reply. Some of the excited girls
scrambled up and stood on their seats; each began to talk to her
neighbour, and the noise swelled till it grew into a general roar of: "A
referendum! Give us a referendum!"

Helen rang the bell for silence, and, when some sort of order was
restored, once more faced the turbulent Juniors.

"Do I clearly understand what it is you want to put to the vote?" she
asked, frowning.

"Yes! Yes! Tell her again, Gipsy!"

"I may be a new girl," said Gipsy, "but the others have chosen me to
speak for them, so I'm their lawful delegate. What we want to vote about
is a question of separation. Are we Juniors to keep on in the old
Guilds, or start Guilds of our own?"

"It will have