Monitress Merle | Page 8

went on wearily
transferring the flowery sentiments of Fénelon into the English tongue.
At precisely five minutes to four the big bell clanged out a warning,
dictionaries were shut, exercise-books handed in, pencil-boxes replaced
in desks, and the class filed downstairs to the big schoolroom. Miss
Pollard was not there: she was busy in the hostel; and Miss Fanny,
looking rather flustered and nervous, had evidently given over the
conduct of the meeting to Miss Mitchell, and was present merely as a
spectator. The new mistress seemed perfectly at home and ready for the
occasion. She passed round pieces of paper, inquired whether
everybody had a pencil, then made her announcements.
"As Miss Pollard told you this morning, you are here to elect two
monitresses. Two from among the boarders have already been chosen
by us, these are Iva Westwood and Nesta Pitman, but the remaining
two are to be balloted for from among the list of candidates. As perhaps
some of you don't understand a ballot, I will tell you just what to do. I
have written on the blackboard the names of those girls who have been
nominated:
"Muriel Burnitt.
"Aubrey Simpson.
"Edith Carey.

"Mavis Ramsay.
"Merle Ramsay.
"What I want you to do is to write on your piece of paper the names of
the two candidates for whom you wish to vote, then fold your paper
and hand it in. You must not add your own name to it, and you have no
need to tell anybody how you voted. The whole principle of a ballot is
that it is done in secret. Are you ready? Then please begin."
The little ceremony was soon over, the girls scribbled rapidly, folded
their papers, and passed them along the benches to Nesta and Iva, who
collected them and gave them to Miss Mitchell.
"It will take a short time to count the votes," explained the mistress.
"Those girls who wish to go home can do so, but any who like to wait
and hear the result can stay."
Miss Mitchell and Miss Fanny retired to the study and the meeting
broke up. Most of the day-girls put on their hats and coats in readiness
to go home, but hung about the hall until the names should be
announced. The contingent from Chagmouth, whose car was stationed
outside in the road, and whose driver was waxing impatient, were
obliged to depart without the exciting news. Merle went as far as the
gate to watch them pack into their 'sardine-tin.' Four sat behind, and
two in front with the chauffeur, all quite radiant and thoroughly
enjoying themselves.
"Good-bye! I hope you'll win!" said Beata, waving a hand to Merle
with difficulty, for she was tightly sandwiched between Fay and Tattie.
"We did our best for you and Mavis. I didn't know any of those others.
Romola, have you got the books? That's all right. I was afraid we'd left
the satchel. Yes," (to the chauffeur) "we're quite ready now, thanks!
Ta-ta, Merle! Good luck to you! We're off!"
Merle, looking after the retreating car, was joined by Aubrey Simpson,
rather injured, and disconsolate.

"I didn't know all these new girls were to have votes," she grumbled.
"How can they choose a monitress when they don't know anybody! It's
rather humbug, isn't it?"
"They know me" perked Merle.
"Did you canvass them? Oh, how mean!"
"Why mean? You could have done it yourself. Muriel was canvassing
among the juniors as hard as she could go."
"I might have canvassed among the new boarders! Why didn't I think
of it?" wailed Aubrey.
"Well, really, it's your own stupid fault! Don't blame me!" snapped
Merle.
"Iva and Nesta said they didn't mean to ask for votes."
"Well, they'd no need to. They were both jolly certain that Miss Pollard
would make them monitresses. It's easy to talk loftily when you're sure
of your innings."
"Did Mavis canvass?"
"No--but then, of course, Mavis wouldn't!"
"Why not?"
"Oh-because she's Mavis! I can't see her doing it somehow. What a
long time Miss Mitchell and Miss Fanny are over their counting! I wish
they'd hurry up. I want to go home to tea."
The girls had not much longer, however, to wait.
In the course of a few minutes the new mistress entered the hall and
read out the important result.
"The polling is as follows," she announced.

"Muriel Burnitt . . . 27 Mavis Ramsay . . . 20 Merle Ramsay . . . 19
Edith Carey . . . 14 Aubrey Simpson . . . 12
"The two monitresses elected, therefore, are Muriel Burnitt and Mavis
Ramsay."
Some of the girls raised a cheer, others took no notice; Miss Mitchell,
who seemed in a hurry, vanished back into the study. The boarders,
hearing their tea-bell, made for