"Heaps--in a box at home. There are Miss Matty's mittens and cross-over, and her silk dress." "Good! I must tell the girls that. We requisition everything we can. Where are they having the meeting, I wonder? Oh, there's Mavie beckoning to us near the horizontal bar!" The day boarders belonging to the Upper Fourth were collected in a corner of the gymnasium, waiting impatiently for a few last arrivals. They made room for Dorothy and Alison, and as Annie Gray followed in a moment or two, the meeting began almost immediately. Hope Lawson, by virtue of her Wardenship, took the chair. The first business of the society was to choose a secretary. "I beg to propose Dorothy Greenfield," said Grace Russell, putting in her word before anyone else had an opportunity, and looking at Ruth Harmon. "And I beg to second the proposal," said Ruth, rising to the occasion. Nobody offered the slightest opposition, and Dorothy was elected unanimously. Very much surprised, but extremely pleased, she accepted the notebook and stump of pencil that were handed her as signs of office. "The next thing is to choose a play," said Hope, "and I think we can't do better than take one of these _Scenes from Thackeray_. _Miss Pinkerton's Establishment for Young Ladies_ is lovely." "Who'd be Miss Pinkerton?" "It depends on the costume. She ought to have curls, and a cap and mittens, and a silk dress." "Can we fish them up from anywhere?" "Didn't you say you'd had them for Miss Matty?" whispered Dorothy to Alison; adding aloud: "This new girl, Alison Clarke, has the complete costume at home, and she's accustomed to acting. I say she'd better take Miss Pinkerton." "One can't give the best part to a new girl," objected Annie Gray. "It's not the best part; it's nothing to Becky Sharp." "Well, it's the second best, anyhow." "Oh, never mind that! Let her try. If you find she can't manage it, you can put in somebody else instead. Give her a chance to show what she can do, at any rate," pleaded Dorothy. "We'd destined Miss Pinkerton for you," murmured Grace Russell. "Then I'll resign in favour of Alison. Let me take Miss Swartz, or one of the servants--I don't mind which." It was characteristic of Dorothy that, having reproached herself for neglecting Alison, she was at once ready to renounce anything and everything for her benefit. She never did things by halves, and, considering that she had made a promise in the train, she meant to keep it; moreover, she had really taken a fancy to the new-comer's beaming face. "So be it!" said Hope. "Put it down provisionally--Miss Pinkerton, Alison Clarke. Now the great business is to choose Becky. Oh, bother! There's the dinner bell! It always rings at the wrong minute. No, we can't meet again at two, because I have my music lesson. We must wait till to-morrow."