“Kirsty’s topping!”

“What’s this Symposium we’re to have after the meeting?” asked Grace.

“Why, I don’t exactly know,” laughed Evelyn.  “I looked ‘symposium’ up in the dictionary, and it said:  ’literally a drinking together; a merry feast; a convivial party.’  I don’t know what we’re going to drink, unless we bring lemon kali and pass it round, like they used to do the loving cup in the Middle Ages!”

“I suppose it’ll be just a kind of concert.  But how about the collection?  What are we supposed to give?”

“Anything you like, from a penny upwards,” replied Beatrice.  “Meg calculated that two hundred and six pennies would be seventeen and twopence, and some girls will probably give more, so she thinks we’re sure of a sovereign, and that ought to buy a decent trophy, something to begin upon, at any rate.  One must make a start.”

“Right you are!  A penny won’t break the banks of even the First Form babes, and millionaires can give their half-crowns, if they’re so disposed!”

Punctually at 3 p.m. on the following Tuesday, the whole school assembled in the gymnasium.  No mistress was present, for on occasions such as this Miss Bishop believed in self-government.  She could trust her head girl and prefects, and had armed them with full authority.  Winona anticipated the meeting with excitement and curiosity.  It was altogether outside her experience.  She had never in her life attended such a function.  Garnet, whose elder sisters had been at large schools, had sketched an outline of what was likely to take place, but even Garnet’s information was second-hand.  Though she had now been exactly a fortnight at Seaton, Winona still felt more or less of a new-comer.  She had hardly spoken to any one outside her own form, and knew the names of comparatively few of her two hundred and five schoolfellows.  Without Garnet she would have been quite at a loss how to steer her course in this great ocean of school life; she thankfully accepted her friend as pilot, and for the present was content to follow her lead.  The two girls presented themselves in the gymnasium in good time, and took their seats among the other members of V.a.  The front bench was occupied by a row of ten-year-olds who had come up this term from the Preparatory, and who sat squeezing each others’ arms, highly impressed with the importance of their remove.  Behind them Form II., a giggling crew rather more au fait with the ways of the school, effervesced occasionally into excited squeals, and were instantly suppressed by a prefect.  The Third and Fourth, which comprised the bulk of the girls from twelve to fifteen, occupied the middle of the hall, a lively, self-confident and rather obstreperous set, all at that awkward age which is anxious to claim privileges, but not particularly ready to submit to the authorized code.  Every one of them was talking at the extreme pitch of her voice, and the noise was considerable.  Patricia Marshall and Clarice Nixon looked at each other and frowned ominously, but as the hands of the big clock pointed almost to three, they judged it better not to interfere, and the din continued.