The hostel was under the superintendence of Miss Kelly.  It was prettily furnished, and looked bright and pleasant.  The girls had a common sitting-room, where they could read, write, paint or play games, and the bedrooms were divided into cubicles.  So far there were only ten boarders, though there was accommodation for eighteen, but no doubt the numbers would be increased when the venture became better known.

The school seemed very strange without the familiar figures of Margaret Howell, Kirsty Paterson, Patricia Marshall and the other prefects.  All of the Sixth had left except Linda Fletcher and Dorrie Pollock, and the members of V.a. were now promoted to the top form.  Linda Fletcher was head of the school, the new prefects being Hilda Langley, Agatha James, Bessie Kirk, Grace Olliver, Evelyn Richards and Garnet Emerson.  Linda, with her past year’s experience, made an extremely suitable “Head.”  She understood thoroughly what ought to be done, and at once called a mass meeting of the whole school in the gymnasium.  Everybody clapped as Linda stood up on the platform to open the proceedings.  She had been a favorite as a prefect, so she was welcomed in her new capacity of “General.”

“Girls!” she began.  “I felt it was better to lose no time in calling this meeting to settle the affairs of the coming school year.  I am in a difficult position, because I have to follow such an extremely able and efficient ‘Head.’  I’m afraid I can’t hope to rival Margaret Howell (cries of “Yes!  Yes!” and “You’ll do!” from the audience), but at least I shall try to do my duty.  During the past year we may fairly consider that the ‘Seaton High’ made enormous strides.  Owing to the exertions of our former ‘Head’ and prefects a most excellent foundation has been laid.  The Dramatic Society, the Debating Club, the Literary Association, the Photographic Union and the Natural History League all accomplished very satisfactory work, and may be considered in a most flourishing condition.  Perhaps, though, our greatest improvement is in the direction of games.  This may not appear on the surface, for though we won five hockey matches, it was impossible, for reasons well known to you, to have fixtures for hockey and tennis.  We feel, nevertheless, that in spite of our inability to test our skill against that of other schools we are conscious of the enormous all-round improvement that has taken place in our play.  It was Kirsty Paterson’s policy to train recruits for the games so that every girl in the school might be a possible champion.  How well she succeeded I hope our next season’s matches may testify.  Let us all work together for the good of the school, and try to establish the reputation of the ‘Seaton High.’  I need not remind you that everything in the coming year will depend upon the energy and efficiency of the Games Captain.  As soon as I knew that I was ‘Head,’ I wrote to Kirsty, who is staying in Cornwall, and asked for her opinion upon this most important point.  I want to read you an extract from her reply, which I received this morning.  She says: