"We want a president, and I propose Adah!" shouted Ethelberga. "And the rest of the prefects as vice-presidents!" amended Janet. "Hear, hear!" came from the audience. "And I," said Pamela, jumping up suddenly, "beg to propose that Avelyn, who suggested the whole idea of the League, shall be elected secretary." "Rather!" "Good biz!" "Ave, by all means!" "Oh, no, please! I don't want to grab any office for myself!" protested Avelyn. "Nonsense! Brace up, child, for you'll have to do it!" urged Laura. "Why, you've brought about the whole business. Besides, you belong to both parties, so you'll bind us together as nobody else could." "The missing link, in fact!" hinnied Irma, trying to be funny. The meeting passed the remaining resolutions in good order, then broke up in a whirl of excited talk. A deputation of prefects visited Miss Thompson's study, and gave her a digest of the afternoon's proceedings. She listened approvingly. "I'll order the new badges at once, and see about hiring a larger cricket field," she commented. The Principal did not judge it discreet to say more to the girls, but over cocoa that evening with the mistresses she voiced her satisfaction. "I knew they'd come round in time if we let them alone. You can't force these things. I suppose it was only natural that the old school and the new should find some difficulty in mingling. Girls are queer creatures, and often very prejudiced. It won't have done them any harm to see what a poor record they made in games when they were striving for rival factions. I consider it an excellent object lesson. I expect they'll all try their best now, and practise away hard at cricket and tennis." "I hoped it marked a new era when I saw Adah and Annie win that set at tennis," nodded Miss Peters. "They're both excellent girls in their way, and should do great things for the school, if they'll only pull together," agreed Miss Hopkins. Avelyn spent her half-hour of leisure that evening in writing to Miss Carrington. "DARLING LAVENDER LADY, "I have actually done it! Or rather, _you_ have done it, for it was entirely your idea. I can scarcely believe it is true, but the League is an accomplished fact, and the new colours, and all your dear jinky suggestions. I don't know how I had the cheek to stand on my legs and make the proposal before the whole school, but I thought of my promise to you, and I did it somehow. I hardly remember what I said. The girls are tremendously keen on the League; they say it's a topping notion. Can you believe it, darling? they've made me secretary. Little me! I shall have to write the letters to other schools, challenging them to matches! I shall use the lovely new blotter you gave me. "Good-bye, and thank you a hundred thousand times for everything you are to me! "With love from "Your devoted "AVELYN." CHAPTER XIX The Surprise Tree