"Good gracious! It's never Nat preaching!" cried Irene with an amazed expression "What will happen next?"
Nat was crimson to her ears. "I'm not preaching," she denied, with as much indignation as if she had been accused of breaking all the ten commandments at once. "I've never preached in my life. It's only that I don't think it's fair——"
"Good for you, Nat," broke in a clear voice from behind, and everyone looked hurriedly round to see Allison standing just inside the door. She had entered unnoticed in the commotion some few minutes ago and now came forward. "Nat is right," she went on decidedly, "I don't know how you got hold of this tale. Miss Julian was particularly anxious that rumours of this sort should not get about."
The girls were eager to explain the source of their information and were already feeling a little ashamed of themselves, for they were good-hearted girls in the main and even those strong-minded spirits, Irene and Glenda, were anxious to keep the good opinion of the popular Head Girl.
Allison smiled round upon the circle of Fifth-formers.
"Then is it agreed that Nat's idea be adopted, and we all decide to forget what we've just heard in Glenda's letter and give this new girl at least a fair start? Then it won't be our faults if she doesn't take advantage of it."
Everyone agreed, with outward heartiness at any rate. "As a matter of fact," Allison then continued, "it's about the new girl that I came to speak to you. She's just arrived."
Naturally this announcement caused great excitement.
"Is she coming into the Fifth?" asked Irene.
"Yes. Miss Julian is giving her a trial with you, though I believe she is a little below the average age. As a senior she'll be entitled to a study, of course. Which of you will volunteer to take her in?"