"You're lucky to have this handsome building in which to do your
lessons," he concluded. "Our environment makes a great difference to us,
and I think it is far easier to turn out good work in the midst of
beautiful surroundings. Grovebury College has reaped a well-deserved
reputation in the past, and I trust that its hitherto excellent
standards will be maintained or even surpassed in the future. As member
for the town there's a special word I wish to say to you. Train
yourselves to be good women citizens. Some day, when you're grown up,
you will have votes, and in that way assist in the self-government of
this great nation. The better educated and the more enlightened you are,
the better fitted you will be for your civic responsibility. Every girl
who does her duty at school is helping her country, because she is
making herself efficient to serve it in some capacity. At present
England stands at a great crisis; if we are to keep up the traditions of
our forefathers we want workers, not slackers, in every department of
life. Even the smallest of those little girls sitting in the front row
can do her bit. As for you elder girls, think of yourselves as a Cadet
Corps, training for the service of the British Empire, and let every
lesson you learn be not for your own advantage, but for the good you can
do with it afterwards to the world. I have very great pleasure in
declaring this new building open."

After Sir James had sat down, the Mayor and several other people made
short speeches, and when all the clapping had finally subsided, the
piano struck up, and the school sang an Empire Song and the National
Anthem. Then the door at the back of the platform opened again for the
exit of the visitors, who, chatting among themselves, made their way to
Miss Burd's study to be hospitably entertained with tea and cakes. The
whole ceremony had barely occupied an hour, and it was not yet four
o'clock. The girls, in orderly files, marched from the lecture-hall, and