‘Of her successor, our own beloved Miss Belcher, it is hard for me to speak. She was the soul of honour. I remember one day she and her friend[98] came to me and said one of them would like to apply for a good post, at a time when head-mistress-ships did not abound. I said, “I think I ought to tell you that events are impending which may shake our College to its foundations.” Some would have said, “Let us seek another shelter.” Their answer was, “We shall not apply.” Sometimes one thinks that if she could have had a less onerous work than the rule over the great school at Bedford, which left but little leisure for exercise, she might be at work now. But we will put aside “Might-have-beens,” as we see how her spirit lives in her school. One of the Bedford Council thought when a salary of over £1000 was offered, there would be many applications—thought we might send a second Head as her successor, but not one of our staff would apply, for Miss Belcher had chosen. ‘This year has taken from us one of my best-beloved pupils, the late Head-mistress of Truro High School, afterwards the wife of Canon Charles Robinson; all who knew her regarded her as indeed a saint. ‘I may not speak of the living—none are happy till their death—but it is a joy to me (now the most ancient grandmother of all) to see with intimate knowledge the good work being done by those whom I have learned to know as friends and fellow-workers. Specially close ties bind me to those Head-mistresses whom we ourselves have sent forth. Of these in the Association there are now twenty presiding over important schools, and ten who are no longer Heads, not to name many who for various reasons do not belong to our Association. ‘To turn to less personal matters, we who belong to Secondary Schools have been happy in escaping the troubles which beset those schools which receive Government grants. So far, Secondary Schools have been allowed some individuality. I think we may give thanks for the liberty of “prophesying,” that we have hitherto enjoyed. I rather dread the result of the absorption into Trusts of the great School Companies. “Wha dare meddle wi’ me?” has been the cry of some of us, and the prickles have protected the flower. ‘Then we have escaped payment by results, and interference from inspectors, some of whom are able to see the body but not the soul which moves it. ‘The present troubles bring us into closer sympathy with those who have been enduring what seemed to us an Egyptian bondage, but who were doing grand work in disciplining and drilling the masses. Many of those who are now to take up the management of Council schools are now brought into closer relation with ours.