_President_. Iva Westwood. _Secretary_. Nesta Pitman. _Committee_. Muriel Burnitt. Aubrey Simpson. Mavis Ramsay. Sybil Vernon. Merle Ramsay. Kitty Trefyre. It was just when the successful candidates were receiving congratulations that Beata Castleton stood up. "As this is an open meeting may I make a suggestion?" she asked. "Certainly," replied Merle from the chair. "Well, I should like to suggest a 'Nature Study Club.' There doesn't seem to be anything of that sort in the school, is there?" "We have a museum somewhere about the place, I believe," admitted Merle. "It's all put away in boxes," said Edith. "Then why can't we bring it out and arrange it and add to it? And can't we start a record, year by year, of when we find the first specimens of certain wild flowers, hear the first notes of certain birds, and see migratory birds? It would be ever so interesting." "What a splendid idea! I'd like to second that!" exclaimed Mavis, jumping up in great enthusiasm. The general feeling was in favour of the proposition, and the Nature Study Club was duly inaugurated, with Beata for president and Fay Macleod for secretary, and a committee consisting mostly of the particular little set of girls who motored daily from Chagmouth. By four o'clock the whole of the business was concluded, the societies were established, and a very hopeful start had been made. Among the many activities of that important afternoon one point seemed to stand out firmly and clearly--Merle above all the other monitresses had shown herself capable of taking the lead. Where Iva, Nesta, and Muriel had failed to control the school she had restored order, conducted the meeting admirably, and exhibited considerable powers of organisation. She had undoubtedly justified her position, and had won the respect of most of her comrades. "Did I do all right?" she asked Mavis anxiously, as they walked home. "Splendiferously! I was bursting with pride! I couldn't have done it myself, Merle! When I saw all that rackety crew talking and ragging, I thought it was hopeless and that we should have to fetch Miss Mitchell. Some of those juniors had just made up their minds to give trouble. You tackled them marvellously." "I wasn't going to give in to them!" declared Merle. "I meant to stop their ragging if I had to go round and box all their ears. Well! They know now they have to behave themselves or I'll know the reason why! But oh, Mavis! I don't think Muriel will ever forgive me for being chairwoman." "Why not?" "She never wanted me to be a monitress!" "Nonsense!" "It's the truth." "Well, she missed her own opportunity, so she can't blame you for taking it this afternoon." "She's against me all the same. Iva and Nesta are quite nice, but there are going to be squalls with Muriel. You'll take my part?" "Of course I shall, through thick and thin. You can always count on your own sister."