The Jolliest Term on Record A Story of School Life   By: Angela Brazil (1868-1947)

BY ANGELA BRAZIL

"Angela Brazil has proved her undoubted talent for writing a story of schoolgirls for other schoolgirls to read." Bookman.

A Popular Schoolgirl. The Princess of the School. A Harum Scarum Schoolgirl. The Head Girl at the Gables. A Patriotic Schoolgirl. For the School Colours. The Madcap of the School. The Luckiest Girl in the School. The Jolliest Term on Record. The Girls of St. Cyprian's. The Youngest Girl in the Fifth. The New Girl at St. Chad's. For the Sake of the School. The School by the Sea. The Leader of the Lower School. A Pair of Schoolgirls. A Fourth Form Friendship. The Manor House School. The Nicest Girl in the School. The Third Class at Miss Kaye's. The Fortunes of Philippa.

LONDON: BLACKIE & SON, LTD., 50 OLD BAILEY, E.C.

[Illustration: "LEFT ALONE, THE TWO GIRLS WERE NOT SLOW IN DISCUSSING THE WONDERFUL NEWS"]

The Jolliest Term on Record

A Story of School Life

BY

ANGELA BRAZIL

Author of "For the Sake of the School" "The Girls of St. Cyprian's" "The School by the Sea" &c. &c.

Illustrated by Balliol Salmon

BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED LONDON GLASGOW AND BOMBAY

Contents

CHAP. Page

I. THE NEW SCHOOL 9

II. A SCRAPE 23

III. SHAKING DOWN 36

IV. THE SCHOOL MASCOT 50

V. LILAC GRANGE 64

VI. AN AWKWARD PREDICAMENT 78

VII. THE MAD HATTERS 93

VIII. AN ADVENTURE 108

IX. THE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP 122

X. AN ANTIQUE PURCHASE 136

XI. WATERLOO DAY 148

XII. KATRINE'S AMBITION 162

XIII. GITHA'S SECRET 175

XIV. A MIDNIGHT ALARM 189

XV. AMATEUR ARTISTS 202

XVI. CONCERNS A LETTER 215

XVII. THE WISHING WELL 226

XVIII. A DISCOVERY 236

XIX. AN ACCIDENT 246

XX. BOB GARTLEY EXPLAINS 257

XXI. THE SPORTS 268

XXII. THE OLD OAK CUPBOARD 279

Illustrations

Page

"LEFT ALONE, THE TWO GIRLS WERE NOT SLOW IN DISCUSSING THE WONDERFUL NEWS" Frontispiece 14

"'THE GOOSE GIRL, BY ALL THAT'S WONDERFUL!' WHISPERED GWETHYN" 28

"GWETHYN TORE OFF THE SILK HANDKERCHIEFS. SHE SAW AT ONCE WHAT HAD HAPPENED" 102

"THE UNPLEASANT TRUTH WAS HOPELESSLY PLAIN THEY WERE PRISONERS IN THE EMPTY HOUSE" 118

"'I BELIEVE I'VE BROKEN MY LEG', HE MOANED" 248

"'THIS CONCERNS US VERY MUCH, GITHA. IT'S YOUR GRANDFATHER'S LAST WILL'" 284

THE JOLLIEST TERM ON RECORD

CHAPTER I

The New School

"Katrine!" said Gwethyn, in her most impressive manner, "have you noticed anything peculiar going on in this house the last two or three days?"

"Why, no," replied Katrine abstractedly, taking a fresh squeeze of cobalt blue, and mixing it carefully with the rose madder and the yellow ochre already on her palette. "Nothing at all unusual. Gwethyn, be careful! You nearly sat down on my brigand, and his head's still wet!"