"On the whole, I'm glad," admitted Iva in private to Nesta. "I love Mavis, but she's too fine stuff for the job. It's like trying to cut sacking with your most delicate pair of scissors. Now Merle will slash2 away and won't mind anything. She's not afraid of those juniors, and really some of them need a tight hand, the young wretches3. It would half kill Mavis to have to battle with them. Merle enjoys fighting."
"She'll get it, then," laughed Nesta. "There'll be plenty of scope for it in the school, and I daresay I shall have a scrimmage or two with her myself. Certainly Muriel will! Don't look shocked. We'll do our squabbles in private if we have any. To the rest of the world, of course, the four monitresses will seem absolutely at one about everything. We won't give ourselves away!"
In a school where hitherto there has been no strict standard of discipline, and which has suddenly doubled its numbers, it is rather a difficult matter to decide the absolute limits of authority. Miss Mitchell, new herself, gave the monitresses some general rules and directions but left them to make what she called 'their own by-laws.'
"Work as much as you can through committees, and have an occasional general meeting to voice popular opinion," she counselled. "Always keep your position as leaders, but don't degenerate4 into an oligarchy5. Listen to just grievances6, and try and bring everybody into harmony. The tone of the school will depend very largely upon you four. Remember it's a responsibility as well as an honour to have such a post of trust."
By the wish of both Miss Pollard and Miss Mitchell, it was arranged that Iva and Nesta, who were boarders, should busy themselves mostly with the affairs of the hostel7, and that Muriel and Merle should look after those things which specially8 concerned the day-girls. There were, of course, various societies in which they could all unite, but the interests of both were to be equally balanced. In order that the girls should have time to inaugurate the numerous projects that loomed9 on the horizon, the last hour of the coming Thursday afternoon was set apart for the purpose, and a general meeting was to be held in the schoolroom.
"I shall leave you to manage it entirely10 yourselves," said Miss Mitchell. "Found your own clubs, make your own arrangements, and elect your own committees and officers. You can come and tell me about it afterwards."
Merle, rejoicing over the liberty thus given, found Iva, Nesta, and
Muriel a trifle nervous and diffident.
"The fact of the matter is," admitted Iva ruefully, "we none of us know how to conduct a public meeting. What do you do? I've a vague idea that there ought to be a chairman and a secretary, but what else? Rather weak of us, isn't it? It seems so humiliating to go and tell Miss Mitchell we can't carry on! She'll think us queer monitresses. Merle, can you give any light?"
"We used to have heaps of public meetings at Whinburn High, and I think I know the ropes. I can coach you all up beforehand. I should say we'd better find out what girls are most likely to be of help, and arrange for them to be proposed as members of committees. There's Mavis, of course. Beata and Romola Castleton have been at school before, and so has Fay Macleod. Kitty Trefyre looks as if she might be useful."
"I shall propose that you take the chair," said Iva. "Oughtn't that to be a question of age?" interrupted Muriel quickly.
"It's a question of who is competent to do it. Merle's the only one of us who knows how," returned Nesta, looking Muriel squarely in the face.
"Oh, all right!" (rather sulkily).
"We shall want a secretary, and you're a quick writer," suggested Merle, with more tact11 than she generally possessed12.
It was evident to Merle from the first that the greatest factor of trouble in connection with her new post would lie with Muriel Burnitt. Muriel was a little older than herself, she was clever, and she had a sharp tongue. She had been educated solely13 at 'The Moorings,' and she very much resented any allusions14 by Merle to former doings at the Whinburn High school. Iva and Nesta were more broad-minded, and were quite ready to take the benefit of Merle's past experiences, but as their work lay largely at the hostel they were not so likely to clash. Even Muriel, however, recognised the necessity of receiving instruction on the subject of a public meeting, and allowed herself to be duly coached for the duties of the occasion.
All the school felt quite excited when three o'clock on Thursday afternoon arrived, and they were left to themselves in the large classroom. Big girls, little girls, new girls, and old girls sat on the forms in giggling15 anticipation16, chattering17 like swallows on the eve of migration18, and determined19 to have a good time and enjoy themselves.
"You're the eldest20! Open the ball!" said Iva, pushing Nesta forward.
But Nesta had turned shy. She had never been in such a position before, and, flushing scarlet21, she urged her utter inability to cope with the matter.
"I can't! You do it—or Muriel!" she whispered in an agonized22 voice.
But Muriel, in spite of her ambition, was also afflicted23 with stage-fright and passed on the honour.
Iva, making a supreme24 effort, called to the girls for silence, but they were too much out of hand to listen to her and only went on talking. Merle, following some wise advice administered by Mavis, had allowed the other three to have first innings, but as none seemed capable of controlling the meeting she now stepped to the front and, making a megaphone of a roll of foolscap, yelled, "Order!" with all the force of her lungs. The effect was instantaneous. There was an immediate25 dead hush26, and all eyes were turned in her direction.
"We're here this afternoon on business, and our first matter is to elect a chairwoman," she proclaimed. "Will somebody kindly27 nominate one."
"I beg to propose Merle," piped Iva.
"And I beg to second her," fluttered Nesta, taking courage.
The clapping and stamping that followed witnessed the entire approval of the meeting. Merle was unanimously elected to the chair, and having thus received the symbol of authority proceeded to wield28 it. She was not in the least bashful, and was quite ready to cope with anything that lay before her. She held up a hand for silence and addressed her audience.
"I've told you we're here on business, and I want to explain. As it affects everybody, perhaps you'll kindly listen without talking. Will those three girls on the back bench move out here? Thanks! Now you all know the school has started on a new era, and we hope it's going to forge ahead. In the past we haven't done very much in the way of societies. Perhaps that's all the better, because it gives us the chance to make a clean start now, without any back traditions to hamper29 us. What I propose is this: We'll go slow at first until we get into the swing of things, and then later on we can blossom out as much as we like. I suggest that we should get up three societies:
"A Games Club.
"A Literary Club.
"An Entertainment Club.
"The Games Club will try and work up a decent hockey team, and when our play is worth anything, we'll see if we can't arrange a match with some other school. The Literary Club will run a magazine, to which you'll all be welcome to send contributions; and the Entertainment Club will concentrate on getting up theatricals30 or something of that sort for the end of the term. Does this meet your views?"
"Rather!"
"A1."
"Go ahead!" shouted several voices.
"Well, our first business is to appoint a president and a secretary for each. I'm going to write a few likely names upon the blackboard, and then you can make your choice. I ought to add that the boarders have already started a Recreation Club of their own, and have made Nesta Pitman president and Aubrey Simpson secretary. This has nothing to do with the day-girls, but I just mention it, thinking you'd like to know about it. We haven't time for a ballot31, so if you'll propose candidates we'll take the voting by a show of hands."
An interesting and exciting ten minutes followed, in which the merits and demerits of various nominations32 were discussed, and the following girls were finally elected to office:
GAMES CLUB
President. Merle Ramsay.
Secretary. Kitty Trefyre.
Committee. Muriel Burnitt.
Aubrey Simpson.
Beata Castleton.
Tattie Carew.
Edith Carey.
Peggie Morrison.
LITERARY CLUB
President. Muriel Burnitt.
Secretary and Editress of Magazine. Mavis Ramsay.
Committee. Iva Westwood. Maude Carey.
Merle Ramsay. Fay Macleod.
Nesta Pitman. Peggie Morrison.
ENTERTAINMENTS CLUB
President. Iva Westwood.
Secretary. Nesta Pitman.
Committee. Muriel Burnitt. Aubrey Simpson.
Mavis Ramsay. Sybil Vernon.
Merle Ramsay. Kitty Trefyre.
It was just when the successful candidates were receiving congratulations that Beata Castleton stood up.
"As this is an open meeting may I make a suggestion?" she asked.
"Certainly," replied Merle from the chair.
"Well, I should like to suggest a 'Nature Study Club.' There doesn't seem to be anything of that sort in the school, is there?"
"We have a museum somewhere about the place, I believe," admitted Merle.
"It's all put away in boxes," said Edith.
"Then why can't we bring it out and arrange it and add to it? And can't we start a record, year by year, of when we find the first specimens33 of certain wild flowers, hear the first notes of certain birds, and see migratory34 birds? It would be ever so interesting."
"What a splendid idea! I'd like to second that!" exclaimed Mavis, jumping up in great enthusiasm.
The general feeling was in favour of the proposition, and the Nature Study Club was duly inaugurated, with Beata for president and Fay Macleod for secretary, and a committee consisting mostly of the particular little set of girls who motored daily from Chagmouth.
By four o'clock the whole of the business was concluded, the societies were established, and a very hopeful start had been made. Among the many activities of that important afternoon one point seemed to stand out firmly and clearly—Merle above all the other monitresses had shown herself capable of taking the lead. Where Iva, Nesta, and Muriel had failed to control the school she had restored order, conducted the meeting admirably, and exhibited considerable powers of organisation35. She had undoubtedly36 justified37 her position, and had won the respect of most of her comrades.
"Did I do all right?" she asked Mavis anxiously, as they walked home.
"Splendiferously! I was bursting with pride! I couldn't have done it myself, Merle! When I saw all that rackety crew talking and ragging, I thought it was hopeless and that we should have to fetch Miss Mitchell. Some of those juniors had just made up their minds to give trouble. You tackled them marvellously."
"I wasn't going to give in to them!" declared Merle. "I meant to stop their ragging if I had to go round and box all their ears. Well! They know now they have to behave themselves or I'll know the reason why! But oh, Mavis! I don't think Muriel will ever forgive me for being chairwoman."
"Why not?"
"She never wanted me to be a monitress!"
"Nonsense!"
"It's the truth."
"Well, she missed her own opportunity, so she can't blame you for taking it this afternoon."
"She's against me all the same. Iva and Nesta are quite nice, but there are going to be squalls with Muriel. You'll take my part?"
"Of course I shall, through thick and thin. You can always count on your own sister."
"That's something to go upon at any rate. I shall need support. I don't believe it's going to be an easy business."
"'Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,'" quoted Mavis laughingly.
"Exactly. I wanted tremendously to be monitress, but I didn't realise all
I was in for. I see many breezes in front."
"You'll weather them all, don't fear! After such a splendid start I've every confidence in you. It's only a question now of keeping it up and going ahead."
Merle was not mistaken in her estimation of the difficulties that lay before her. A certain section of the juniors, led by Winnie Osborne and Joyce Colman, the firebrands of the Third form, offered great resistance to the authority of the monitresses, and put every possible obstacle in their way. To keep these unruly youngsters in order meant a constant clashing of wills, and needed much courage and determination. Some of the new girls also were inclined to rebel and to air their own views. Sybil Vernon, in particular, was a thorn in the flesh. She had been at boarding-school before, and on the strength of her previous experience she offered advice upon any and every occasion. She was very aggrieved38 that she had not been eligible39 for election to office herself.
"I know so much more about it than most of you!" she would explain airily. "If Miss Pollard had only chosen me as a monitress I could have organised everything exactly like it used to be done at The Limes."
Sybil was a curious girl, fair, with a fat babyish face, and a vast idea of her own importance. She was very proud of her family, and never for a moment forgot, or allowed anybody else to forget, that she belonged to the Vernons of Renshaw Court, and that Sir Richard Vernon was her second cousin. She expected a great deal more attention than the school was willing to accord to her, and was invariably offended or aggrieved or annoyed about something. The girls did not take her very seriously, and laughed at what they called her 'jim-jams,' which had the effect of making her first very indignant and finally reducing her to floods of tears.
Though Sybil might be annoying there was really not much harm in her, and her criticisms were very easily combated. A different girl altogether, however, was Kitty Trefyre. She also had been at another school, and set forth40 standards of conduct which were dissimilar from those at 'The Moorings.' She was cautious in airing these, and wisely so, for most of them caused the monitresses to lift their eyebrows41 in amazement42, whereupon she would instantly retract43 her remarks and declare she was only 'ragging.' How much she really meant Merle never knew, but the latter did not trust her.
"There's a sneaky look about her eyes," she commented to Mavis. "Sybil lunges out and finds open fault, but Kitty hits in the dark. I hope she's not going to spoil Iva!"
"Oh, don't say that!"
"They're chums already, and Iva is rather a chameleon44! She takes the colour of her character from her friends."
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1
promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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2
slash
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| vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩 | |
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3
wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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degenerate
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| v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者 | |
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oligarchy
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| n.寡头政治 | |
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grievances
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| n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚 | |
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7
hostel
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| n.（学生）宿舍，招待所 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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9
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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10
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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12
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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13
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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allusions
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| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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giggling
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 ) | |
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16
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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17
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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18
migration
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| n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙 | |
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19
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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20
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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agonized
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| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
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afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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27
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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28
wield
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| vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等) | |
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29
hamper
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| vt.妨碍，束缚，限制；n.(有盖的)大篮子 | |
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30
theatricals
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| n.（业余性的）戏剧演出，舞台表演艺术；职业演员；戏剧的( theatrical的名词复数 )；剧场的；炫耀的；戏剧性的 | |
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31
ballot
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| n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票 | |
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32
nominations
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| n.提名，任命( nomination的名词复数 ) | |
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33
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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34
migratory
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| n.候鸟，迁移 | |
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35
organisation
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| n.组织，安排，团体，有机休 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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aggrieved
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| adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) | |
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eligible
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| adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的 | |
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40
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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41
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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42
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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43
retract
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| vt.缩回，撤回收回，取消 | |
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44
chameleon
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| n.变色龙，蜥蜴；善变之人 | |
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