cry, and were only restrained from shouting it at the pitch of their lungs by the sight of Miss Bishop, who stood below, talking to Miss Medland and the judge.  The enthusiasm went perhaps more by favor than by actual prowess, and could hardly be taken as an augury of success, for Barbara Jones, who was popular, received much more encouragement than Olga Dickinson, who had distanced her every time at the practices.  Juniors will be juniors, however, and the fourth and third forms stamped solidly for Barbara, ignoring the superior claims of her rival.

The bath, with its blue and white tiles, looked tempting.  All the school envied the candidates as they came marching in in their costumes.

“Evelyn’s got a place after all!” said Garnet, who was among the spectators, to Gladys Cooper, who sat next to her.  “Some one else must be off, then.  Who is it?  Freda Long?  Poor old Freda!  Got toothache?  It’s hard luck on her!  There’s Winona.  I don’t believe she’ll win, but I’ll cheer her!  Rather!”

Winona also did not think it likely that she would win.  She had only had time for half the lessons, which put her at a serious disadvantage with girls who had taken the full course.  It was unsporting, however, to go in confident of defeat, so she meant to do her best.

The first event was the Upper School Championship for the fastest swimmer.  The candidates stood ready at the edge of the bath, then at the given signal they flung themselves into the water, and started.  At first they were fairly even, but after a dozen yards or so several shot ahead.  The irrepressible juniors lost all control in their excitement, and cheered on each as she appeared to be gaining.

“Audrey Redfern!”

“No, no!  Jess Gardner!”

“Winona Woodward!”

“Elsie Parton’s passed her!”

“No, no!  Winona’s making up!”

“She’ll never do it, though!”

“It’s a draw!”

As a matter of fact Winona and Elsie Parton touched the winning tape at the very identical moment.  It was a great surprise for both of them.  Winona had expected Jess or Audrey to be first, and never thought of Elsie as a possible champion.  Elsie was in V.b. and had not been very long at the school.  No one had taken much notice of her up to now, and the girls were rather staggered at her success.  They did not even clap her as she climbed up from the bath.  The judge wrote down the result, and called the next event.  This was the Lower School Championship, and the juniors were soon screaming for Barbara Jones and Daisy James.  The latter had it by a length, and walked away smiling, to be wrapped up in a towel by Miss Lever, for she was a chilly little creature, and apt to be taken with fits of shivers if she stood long out of the water.

Diving followed, both from the edge of the bath and from the diving board.  In the Senior division Audrey and Jess secured the highest scores, neither Winona nor Elsie coming near them.  Winona was not really very fond of diving, while Elsie staked her all upon extreme speed.  The Juniors did almost better than their elders, Olga Dickinson’s achievement quite carrying the enthusiasm of the hall.