"Quite enough to convince me that Paddy has a very fertile imagination," retorted Kitty, promptly. "Sure," said Paddy, with a sigh. "I was afraid my efforts would be wasted on you. You've lived long enough in the world to know a little too much. Never mind," brightening up, "we've a couple of new juniors in our house, quite youngsters; I really think it's my duty to instruct them in the rules of the school. So I will, as sure as eggs is meat," and she departed, chuckling. "What about our meeting?" said Duane, when Paddy had disappeared. "Seems to me we've got a pretty big job on, if we take on all Prinny's little hints." "Too late to do much this year," said France. "If I take my first in art again, I shall be quite satisfied." "What about you others?" said Hilary, slowly. "Let's see what we can muster up in the way of prizes." "Precious little, I bet," returned Duane. "I'm in the running for second prize in science, but Salome will take the first. I can't beat her." "And of course I'm in the running for an English prize again," remarked Hilary. "But one can never be certain." Margaret declared she would try for a history prize and Bertha for an arithmetic prize, but neither really thought much of their chances of success. "Lively, isn't it?" said Hilary, reflectively. "We shall have to stir up our juniors a bit if we want anything done." "They're too busy squabbling amongst themselves," said Duane. "You know they have two rival societies on the go. The Budmushes and the something else--I forget what." "The P. Squareds, whatever that may mean. Sounds like an algebraic formula. Can't we put an end to it and get them to join forces?" "Put an end to their blessed societies, you mean?" said Duane. "They wouldn't hear of it. They're free to have as many secret societies as they like, so long as they don't break rules. By the by, there'll be our usual inter-house cricket and tennis matches this term. I shall soon have to see about drawing up our teams." Another silence. The head prefect appeared on the point of dropping off to sleep, and as nobody seemed to have anything to offer in the way of suggestions or ideas, the girls made their departure in ones and twos. Kitty thought it had been a very feeble, ineffectual affair altogether. After the invigorating atmosphere brought into the room for a few minutes by Paddy, it had seemed very flat and lifeless. Hilary alone had made some attempt to get a definite plan fixed, and she had not succeeded.