but though she might be the unacknowledged leader, that gave her no
increased authority. Sometimes her excess of zeal led to ructions. Miss
Mitchell had strongly urged the necessity of improving the games, and
particularly of training the juniors to play hockey properly. Merle
seized upon them at every opportunity and made them practise. One
afternoon, as everybody filed out at four o'clock, she captured her
recruits and began some instruction. But unfortunately it happened that
Winnie and Joyce, who were her aptest pupils, were wanted by Nesta for
schemes of her own, and she came and called them in.

"Can't spare them now!" objected Merle briefly.

"Sorry! But they'll have to come!"

"Not if their Games Captain wants them!"

"I'm their hostel monitress!"

"Miss Mitchell asked me to see to the hockey!"

"Then you must get day-girls to stay for your practice. I've instructions
to see that all the boarders come straight back to the hostel after
school!"

Merle gave way with a very bad grace. She felt that Nesta was interfering
out of sheer officiousness.

"What a jack-in-office!" she grumbled under her breath. "I believe those
boarders may do anything they like until tea-time. Nesta needn't plume
herself upon being prime favourite with Miss Mitchell. She may whisk