day."

"Fay Macleod is secretary of the Nature Club. She'd be able to tell you
exactly," temporised Merle.

"So she would! I'll ask her to-morrow."

Merle went home with her head in a whirl. It was quite evident that
Muriel had hit upon exactly the same idea as herself, and intended to
present Miss Mitchell with a full record of the societies.

"Only, hers will probably be written in an exercise-book and not be half
as nice as mine! She mustn't forestall me, though! However artistic my
list is, it will fall very flat if Muriel gives hers in first. I've got
to finish it somehow to-night and take it to school to-morrow morning.
That's certain!"

When Merle made up her mind about anything, nothing could move her.
Directly she got home she set to work upon the book-back, and toiled away
at it, utterly ignoring her preparation. In vain Mavis urged the claims
of Latin verbs and Shakespeare recitation.

"I shan't stop till I've finished this!" declared Merle stubbornly. "Not
if I sit up all night over it. Bother the old 'Merchant of Venice' and
beastly Latin verbs! I'll glance through them at breakfast-time and trust
to luck. Surely Miss Mitchell will understand when she knows how busy
I've been over this! I shall give it to her before nine o'clock."

"Can't I help you? I've finished my prep."