[Illustration: Cover art] [Frontispiece: "'Good game, Kitty, wasn't it?'" (_see page_ 44)] Schoolgirl Rivals By BRENDA PAGE With Frontispiece in Colour and Three Black and White Illustrations By P. B. HICKLING CASSELL AND COMPANY, LIMITED London, Toronto, Melbourne, and Sydney First Published 1937 _Printed in Great Britain_ CONTENTS CHAPTER 1. First Impressions 2. The Seniors of Carslake's 3. The P. Squareds 4. The Richoter Science Prize 5. Trial by Jury 6. The Richoter Results 7. Sports Day 8. Carslake's v. The Rest 9. The Cycling Expedition 10. A Night on the Downs 11. The Truth of it All ILLUSTRATIONS "'Good game, Kitty, wasn't it?'" ... Frontispiece "She swung round quickly as the Principal said sharply: 'Has someone been interfering with your balances, Constance?'" "'What rubbish is all this?' Duane asked" "Crouched in a forlorn heap upon the floor, they found the runaway" Schoolgirl Rivals CHAPTER I FIRST IMPRESSIONS "Good-Bye, my dear child. You are quite sure you will be all right and have everything you want? It's a straightforward run now to Easthampton." "Oh yes, I shall be quite all right, Mrs. Wade, and thank you very much for all the trouble you've taken with me. I'll sure never forget it." Mrs. Wade nodded and waved as the train moved out of the junction. She had arrived in London off an Australian boat only the day before and had been in charge of the Australian girl during the voyage over. She had not seen her native country for twenty-five years, and so was naturally feeling rather excited. She turned away with her conscience at rest, having successfully fulfilled her obligation. To be sure, her charge was a very sensible and practical girl, with a mind and will of her own, and had given her no trouble. Now she was safely in the train that would carry her straight to her destination, and Mrs. Wade could leave off worrying about her, and turn her attention to the relations she had not seen for twenty-five years. Left "on her own" for the first time in her life, Kitty Despard, Australian born and bred, settled herself in her corner seat with an inward feeling of mingled excitement and trepidation, but outwardly with firmly set lips and resolute air. She was a stranger in a strange land, but Australians are not noted for either nervousness or backwardness.