But Miss Phillips did not notice the departure from discipline. Perhaps too, she was too much interested in her subject to be aware of it.
“‘Everygirl,’” she replied, holding up a copy of the play. “I think you are going to like it; and if you do well with it, it will surely bring credit to the whole school!”
She opened the pamphlet she was holding, and read off a list of symbolic characters. “Of course the play is an allegory; ‘Everygirl’ just represents any girl, who meets with good and evil, and who has to choose her companions and her course through life. There are a good many parts to the play, so I hope you will all be able to be in it. Of course, the main part is that of Everygirl, the heroine.”
“Captain,” said Frances, rising and saluting, “please tell me how you are going to select the girls for the parts, and whether we shall be able to study them over spring vacation.”
“I am going to select the characters at a try-out to-morrow afternoon; so will everybody please come to the Gym right after lunch?”
“I used to be in plays at home,” remarked Ruth. “I suppose that will help, won’t it?”
“We’ll see to-morrow,” replied Miss Phillips. “Now, one thing more before we take our second-class tests: I want to arrange about our cabin party with the Boy Scouts. School reopens April fifteenth, which is on Wednesday; so all the Girl Scouts are to come back here on Tuesday morning. Get here before twelve o’clock. The housekeeper, Mrs. Rock, is going to give us a light lunch, and we are to change into our scout uniforms, take a trolley to Bear’s Hill and hike to the cabin. Each girl is to bring her own mess-kit, and wear warm clothes; the Boy Scouts prepare the rest.”
Ruth’s eyes danced. “How many Boy Scouts are there?” she asked.
“I think they have a full troop—four patrols—thirty-two boys—but they are going to take only the sixteen with the highest standing. Their Scoutmaster, Mr. Remington, told me all the boys were crazy to go; but he didn’t want their numbers to overwhelm us. Now, girls, unless there are some important questions, we will not talk about these things any longer, but will prepare to take the written part of the second-class test. And before I forget it, will you bring your samples of sewing, crocheting, and knitting over to the Gym to-morrow afternoon for me to examine. Then after supper to-morrow night, I ought to be able to announce the names of the girls who have passed the test.”
Ethel arose excitedly. “Captain,” she said, “the handbook says we need submit either knitting or crocheting; so we don’t have to bring both, do we?”