“With what for a text?” somebody asked.

“‘Putting One’s Best Foot Forward,’” declared Mary Cox, and suddenly seizing charcoal and paper, she sketched the idea quickly—­a smartly dressed up-to-date Briarwood girl with her right foot advanced—­and that foot, as in a foreshortened photograph—­of enormous size.

The poster took with the girls immensely.  There was something chic about the figure, and the face, while looking like nobody in particular, was a composite of several of the girls.  At least, it was an inspiration on the part of Mary Cox, and when Mrs. Tellingham saw it, she approved.

“We’ll just send this ‘Big Foot Girl’ broadcast,” cried Helen, who was proud that her spoken word had been the inspiration for Mary’s clever cartoon.  “Come on! we’ll have it stamped on our stationery, and write to everyone we know bespeaking their best attention when they see the poster in their vicinity.”

“And we’ll have new postcards made of Briarwood Hall, with Mary’s figure printed on the reverse,” Sarah Fish said.

They sent a proof of the poster to Mr. Hammond, and to his billing of “The Heart of a Schoolgirl” he immediately added “The Briarwood Girl with Her Best Foot Forward.”  Locally, during the next few weeks, this poster became immensely popular.

The campaign of advertising did not end with Mary’s poster—­no, indeed!  In every way they could think of the girls of Briarwood Hall spread the tidings of the forthcoming release of the school play.

Lumberton’s advertising space was plastered with the Briarwood Girl and with other billing weeks before the film could be seen.  As every moving picture theatre in the place clamored for the film, Mr. Hammond had refused to book it with any.  The Opera House was engaged for three days and nights, a high price for tickets asked, and it was expected that a goodly sum would be raised for the dormitory right at home.

However, before the picture of “The Heart of a Schoolgirl” came to town, something else happened in the career of Ruth Fielding of the Red Mill which greatly influenced her future.

CHAPTER XXIV

“SEEING OURSELVES AS OTHERS SEE US”

“I want to tell you girls one thing,” said Jennie Stone, solemnly.  “If I get through these examinations without having so low a mark that Miss Brokaw sends me down into the primary grade, I promise to be good for—­for—­well, for the rest of my life—­at Briarwood!”

“Of course,” Helen said.  “Heavy would limit that vow to something easy.”

“Perhaps she had the same grave doubt about being able to be good that the little boy felt who was saying his prayers,” Belle said.  “He prayed:  ’Dear God, please make me a good boy—­and if You don’t at first succeed, try, try again!’”

“But oh! some of the problems are so hard,” sighed Lluella.

“‘The Mournful Sisters’ will now give their famous sketch,” laughed Ruth, as announcer.  “Come, now! altogether, girls!”