So wrote Gipsy, and thought no more about the matter. This portion of her editorial address, however, was seized upon by several of the girls, and led to results which she had certainly not expected.
"Wants criticisms, does she?" said Maude Helm. "Well, I'll guarantee she'll get them for once."
"And suggestions too!" giggled Gladys Merriman. "She's had it her own way too long. The fuss people made about her at the bazaar was absurd."
"You weren't even asked to sing at the café chantant, Gladys!" commented Alice O'Connor.
"There's been far too much of this favouritism lately. It's time somebody took the thing up, and others had their fair turn. I was speaking to Leonora about it, and she quite agreed with me."
"Yes; Poppie gave a strong hint she'd like Leonora pushed to the front rather than Gipsy."
"Poppie barely tolerates Gipsy."
"I agree with you there. She'd rejoice to see her shelved."
"Well, look here, we've no time to stand gossiping. If anything's to be done, we'd best go and canvass among the kids."
It was exactly at this crisis that Meg Gordon returned to school. She had been absent since the week before Christmas, when her brother had developed measles. She herself had caught the infection, and one after another various brothers and sisters had sickened with it, so that for about three months the whole family had been in quarantine. In her case the old adage "absence makes the heart grow fonder" was undoubtedly true. She came back more devoted to Gipsy than ever, ready to hang upon her words, and yield her somewhat the same fealty as a squire of the Middle Ages rendered to the knight to whom, by the laws of chivalry, he was bound. It was well for Gipsy to have so firm an adherent, for her present position in the school caused her to be greatly in need of stanch friends.