"It's more awful to show off before Governors than I expected!" sighed Joyce. "I'm just shivering!"
"What'll you be at the rings, then?" asked Bessie.
"Silence!" urged Miss Lever, who was in charge of the ante-room.
The strains of "Little Grey Home in the West" and the regular thud of small feet were wafted from the gymnasium.
"Don't you wish you were a kid again?" whispered Joyce.
"No, I don't!" retorted Bessie, so imprudently loud that Miss Lever glared at her.
"It's horrid having to stay in here, where one can't see!" murmured Marjorie under her breath.
They knew by the music, however, what was taking place. The juniors were doing wand exercises, the intermediates followed with clubs.
"Our turn again soon," whispered Winona.
Olave Parry, from a vantage post near the door, could see into the gymnasium, and report progress. Her items of news passed in whispers down the ranks. The babies had skipped like a row of cherubs, and the Governors were wreathed in smiles. Kitty Carter had dropped one of her clubs, and it nearly hit a visitor on the head, but fortunately missed her by half an inch. Laura Marshall was performing prodigies on the horizontal ladder—she undoubtedly had a chance for a medal. Bursts of applause from the audience punctuated the performance. Olave continued her report, which Miss Lever, who took occasional excursions into the gymnasium, verified from time to time. The juniors were competing now. Natalie Powers was about to do the ring exercises. It was a swing and a pull-up in front, and she managed that neatly, but when it came to the swing and the turn, she lost her nerve, turned too soon and spun round helplessly in the air until Miss Barbour hurried to her aid. Natalie was done for, without doubt! It was a good thing she had not fallen and hurt herself. Her rivals were rope-climbing. Madge Collins had reached the top in six seconds, and was sliding down again, to the accompaniment of loud clapping. Lennie Roberts had beaten her, for she had performed the same feat in exactly five seconds. The juniors were in a ferment of excitement. The interest of the audience had waxed to enthusiasm point.