Part 17 (1/2)

Githa nodded.

”I know. She died last month. It used to be ours. The R and L are for Richard Ledbury. It stood on a table in the library at the Grange.

Grandfather had promised it to me. He often called it 'Githa's cupboard'. I suppose Uncle Wilfred put it in with the rest of the things at the sale, and Miss Jackson must have bought it. I always wondered what had become of it. It's such a dear little cupboard.”

”Oh! I'm sorry if we've sneaked it away from you.”

”Never mind. It's not your fault; I'd rather Katrine had it than anyone else. I'm glad to see it again, and to know that somebody's got it who'll value it.”

CHAPTER XI

Waterloo Day

The girls at Aireyholme were nothing if not patriotic. They followed the course of national events with keenest interest. In common with most other schools they had sent their quota of knitted garments to the troops, and they kept collecting-boxes for both Prince of Wales and Belgian Relief Funds. These enterprises were good as far as they went, but not nearly sufficient to satisfy their martial spirit.

”We're not making any sacrifices,” declared Viola Webster impressively.

”We don't realize the war enough. We're letting our Allies outstrip us.

If we were Serbian or Russian we should be doing far more.”

”What sort of things?” queried Hilda Smart. Hilda was practical to a fault, though Viola liked vaguely to generalize.

”Oh! patriotic things, you know.” (Viola was rather cornered when it came to matter-of-fact explanations.) ”Tearing up our gymnastic costumes for lint, and--and--helping to make bullets, and all the rest of it.”

”I thought bullets were made by machinery at ordnance works? And it would be rather silly to tear up our gym. clothes. They wouldn't make good lint, either!”

”Well, if not exactly that, we ought to be doing something.”

”We have drill, and flag-signalling.”

”I'd have liked rifle practice. I don't see why girls shouldn't shoot!

At my brothers' school they have a Cadet Corps.”

”Mrs. Franklin would have a fit if she saw us handling rifles,” laughed Coralie. ”A Girls' Cadet Corps sounds Utopian, but we'd never get the powers that be to allow it.”

”All the same,” interposed Diana, ”I think Vi is right. We're not doing as much as we might. If we can't have a Cadet Corps, let us start a Girls' Patriotic League.”

”Good! It would brace us all up. We'll plan it out. Have you a sc.r.a.p of paper and a pencil? We'll call it 'The Aireyholme Patriotic League.

Object--To render the utmost possible service to our country in her hour of need.' Let's make up a committee, and fix some rules.”

”Best call a general meeting of the whole school,” suggested Dorrie Vernon. ”The kids will take to it far better if they have a hand in it from the beginning.”

Dorrie was special monitress for the Fourth Form, and knew the mind of the juniors. She was always ready to take their part, and secure them their fair share in what was going on. Viola and Diana were inclined to use their prerogative almost to domineering point, but Dorrie stood as representative of the rights of the bulk of the school. After a short argument her counsel prevailed, and a general meeting was announced.

The girls responded with enthusiasm. Everybody turned up, and all were ready to join the new society. Discussions were invited, and in the end the following rules were drafted:--

1. That this Society be called The Aireyholme Girls' Patriotic League.

2. That its object is to render service to our country and her allies.