Winona fully realized the responsibilities of her important position, and began at once to pick up the threads of her new duties.  She took possession of the Games Register, with its records of past matches, and began to make plans for hockey fixtures.  The term had begun so early that the other schools in the county had not yet re-opened; that, however, was really an advantage, as it gave her more time for consideration.  At present the September weather was hot as summer, and tennis and cricket were still in full swing.  In order to spur on enthusiasm Winona organized a school tennis tournament.  The result was highly satisfactory.  Several new and unsuspected stars swam into view, and she determined to keep her eye upon them as possible champions for next summer.

“You never know what a girl’s capable of till you try her!” she confided to Garnet.  “Who would ever have thought that that stupid-looking little Emily Cooper could beat Ethel March?  I was simply astounded.  I’ve my plans for Emily, I can tell you!  And I believe Bertha March is going to be a second Annie Hardy.  She serves in exactly the same way.  Oh, I’ve hopes for next summer.  Brilliant, glorious hopes.”

The school took every opportunity of using the fine weather while it lasted.  The Photographic Union organized an outing to Linworth, a picturesque town six miles away, where an old castle, an Elizabethan mansion, a river and many quaint streets made subjects for their cameras, and promised to provide materials for an exhibition later on, when films were developed and prints taken.  The Natural History League had another delightful ramble under Miss Lever’s leadership, and secured additional specimens for the museum.  On this occasion Winona and Garnet started in better time for the station, and did not get into the wrong train, as they had done on the expedition to Monkend Woods.

“Dollikins,” as Miss Lever was affectionately nicknamed, was as great a favorite as ever among the girls.  Owing to changes on the staff, she now had charge of IV.a. and taught mathematics throughout the junior forms, so that the seniors saw little of her in school hours.  On a ramble she was as jolly as one of themselves.

The Sixth had a new mistress, Miss Goodson, who had only joined the staff this term.  The form was rather uncertain whether to like her or not.  It was rumored that she had been engaged specially to coach them for the matriculation.  So far the High School had been laying foundations, and had not sent in any candidates for public examinations.  This year, however, having a certain amount of promising material in the Sixth, Miss Bishop had decided that the time was ripe for trying to win the educational laurels towards which their training had been directed.  Miss Goodson came from a High School in the north, and brought with her a reputation for successful coaching.  She was well up in all her subjects, but she was a cold and not very inspiring person.  She was apt to concentrate her energies on the clever members of her form, and leave the less brilliant to stumble along as best they could.  Winona, who certainly belonged to the second category, did not like Miss Goodson, while Garnet was strongly in her favor.