CHAPTER III.

GREYCLIFF CLUBS.

The majority of Greycliff girls enjoyed the chapel period. Attendance was compulsory, but there was the home feeling of people with many thoughts and activities in common and the interest of knowing what was going on. From the platform where sat the faculty, the sight of those girlish faces must have been an inspiration. And as to the girls, there were times when they really appreciated the fine array of talent upon the platform. There was Miss Randolph, whose face was beautiful, with fine thoughts and high ideals. There were intellectual men and bright, earnest women, whose chief purpose was to unfold truth in teaching their subjects to these girls. At times, to be sure, members of the faculty would come to the conclusion that none of the girls were endowed with minds and that all their efforts were wasted. This conclusion would be reached over a set of examination papers on which the class had done its worst. On the other hand, in the eyes of the girls at times, the faculty were the most obstinate, particular, insistent group of people that ever existed, when they stood in the way of some cherished plan, or imposed distasteful tasks! But on the whole, the Greycliff relations between girls and teachers were most pleasant. At critical times, real love and appreciation came to the fore.

On Thursday morning of this first week of school, Dr. Norris, who was reading the notices after the brief service, paused with a sheaf of small paper in his hands. “So many notices of meetings have been handed me, that I advise you either to make a note now of those in which you are interested, or to consult carefully the bulletin on which these will be posted. Many of them are only for organization and ought to be brief. Most of them occur on Friday evening or some time Saturday.” There followed such a list of clubs that most of the faculty were smiling and the girls laughing or giggling before Dr. Norris had finished. Some of the clubs had odd names, or Greek letter titles, which rather concealed any purpose the club might have than revealed it. The dramatic club, the musical club, the “Greycliff Orchestral Society,” the art club, the athletic council, the debating club and others, all announced meetings.

“And to think that we have the effrontery to start any more!” whispered Helen to Juliet.

Class meetings were also announced, among them the senior academy meeting. But two busy days of class work came before these important gatherings. Our girls’ minds were in a whirl of studies, plans, and 

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