"It ought to be somebody who could lead!" flushed Merle. "Somebody really good at games and able to organise all that rabble of kids. Some one who's been accustomed to a big school and knows what ought to be done. Not girls who've spent all their lives in a tiny school like this. They've no standards. I've often told them that! They've simply no idea of how things used to swing at the Whinburn High!" "I wish Miss Pollard and Miss Mitchell would have done all the choosing," said Mavis anxiously. "I think myself it's a mistake to put it to the vote. Probably somebody quite unsuitable will be elected. The juniors will plump for the girl they like best, without caring whether she knows anything about games or not. There's Aubrey Simpson!" "Oh! They _can't_ choose 'the jackdaw'!" interrupted Merle. "They can choose her if they like. She's over fifteen and perfectly eligible. Edith Carey is rather a favourite, I believe." "That silly goose! Good-night!" "Well, there's Muriel Burnitt at any rate. She's been a long time at 'The Moorings.'" "All the worse for that, though she's better than Edith or Aubrey. I shall vote for her myself, and for you." "And I'm going to vote for _you_, and for Muriel, because, as you say, she's better than the others. I sincerely hope you'll win." "I hope we both shall. I'll nominate you if you'll nominate me!" "Rather a family affair, isn't it? I think I'll ask first and see if anybody else is going to give in our names. Perhaps Iva or Nesta may. It would be much nicer than seeming to poke ourselves forward." "If we don't hustle a little we'll never get there! That's my opinion! You're too good for this wicked world, Mavis! I've often told you so!" declared Merle, running into the house and putting down her books with a slam. "Angel girls are all very well at home, but school is a scrimmage and it's those who fight who come up on top! Don't laugh! Oh, I enjoy fighting! I tell you I want most desperately and tremendously to be made a monitress, and if I'm not chosen, well--it will be the disappointment of my life! I'm not joking! I mean it really and truly. I've set my heart upon it." Mavis, who had a very fine sense of the fitness of things, and who did not think sisters should nominate one another, returned early to school that afternoon and hunted up Iva Westwood. She found her very enthusiastic about the election. "We've never had anything of the sort before at 'The Moorings,'" purred Iva. "We're beginning to wake up here, aren't we? I'm going to give in your name as a candidate, Mavis! I'm just writing it now." "Thanks! Won't you put Merle too?" "Oh, I will if you like." (Iva's voice was not too enthusiastic.) "I suppose it doesn't matter how many we nominate. Somehow I never thought of Merle." "She's a splendid leader, and A1 at games. You should have seen her at Whinburn High!" "Oh, I daresay! Well, to please you I'll put her name on my list. It can do no harm at any rate." "Thanks ever so!"