Chapter I: Front Matter

The Leader of the

Lower School

BY ANGELA BRAZIL

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

=A Patriotic Schoolgirl.=

"A capital story for girls--breezy, healthy, and
full of interest."--=Ladies' Field.=

=For the School Colours.=

"Angela Brazil knows what schoolgirls like to read
and she gives it to them."--=Scottish Educational
Journal.=

=The Madcap of the School.=

"A capital school story, full of incident and fun,
and ending with a mystery."--=Spectator.=

=The Luckiest Girl in the School.=

"A thoroughly good girls' school story."--=Truth.=

=The Jolliest Term on Record.=

"A capital story for girls."--=Record.=

=The Girls of St. Cyprian's=: A Tale of School
Life.

"St. Cyprian's is a remarkably real school, and
Mildred Lancaster is a delightful girl."--=Saturday
Review.=

=The Youngest Girl in the Fifth=: A School Story.

"A very brightly-written story of schoolgirl
character."--=Daily Mail.=

=The New Girl at St. Chad's=: A Story of School
Life.

"The story is one to attract every lassie of good
taste."--=Globe.=

=For the Sake of the School.=

"Schoolgirls will do well to try to secure a copy
of this delightful story, with which they will be
charmed."--=Schoolmaster.=

=The School by the Sea.=

"One always looks for works of merit from the pen
of Miss Angela Brazil. This book is no
exception."--=School Guardian.=

=The Leader of the Lower School=: A Tale of School
Life.

"Juniors will sympathize with the Lower School at
Briarcroft, and rejoice when the new-comer wages
her successful battle."--=Times.=

=A Pair of Schoolgirls=: A Story of School-days.

"The story is so realistic that it should appeal to
all girls."--=Outlook.=

=A Fourth Form Friendship=: A School Story.

"No girl could fail to be interested in this
book."--=Educational News.=

=The Manor House School.=

"One of the best stories for girls we have seen for
a long time."--=Literary World.=

=The Nicest Girl in the School.=

=The Third Class at Miss Kaye's=: A School Story.

=The Fortunes of Philippa=: A School Story.

* * * * *

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

The Leader of the Lower School

A Tale of School Life

BY

ANGELA BRAZIL

Author of "The Youngest Girl in the Fifth"
"A Pair of Schoolgirls" "The New Girl at St. Chad's"
"A Fourth Form Friendship" &c.

_ILLUSTRATED BY JOHN CAMPBELL_

BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED
LONDON GLASGOW AND BOMBAY

Contents

CHAP. Page

I. GIPSY ARRIVES 9

II. THE _QUEEN OF THE WAVES_ 21

III. GIPSY MAKES A BEGINNING 31

IV. A MASS MEETING 44

V. A PITCHED BATTLE 55

VI. AMERICAN FUDGE 68

VII. GIPSY TAKES HER FLING 80

VIII. DAISY FORGETS 96

IX. GIPSY GROWS ANXIOUS 108

X. THE MILLIONAIRESS 122

XI. GIPSY TURNS CHAMPION 137

XII. A SPARTAN MAIDEN 150

XIII. A LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION 162

XIV. MOUNTAINEERING 173

XV. A SCHOOL MYSTERY 187

XVI. A FRIEND IN NEED 204

XVII. A TANGLED STORY 215

XVIII. GIPSY AT LARGE 226

XIX. THE UNITED GUILD FESTIVAL 241

Illustrations

Page

A SUCCESSFUL CLIMB _Frontispiece_ 177

THE LOWER SCHOOL FIND A LEADER 50

"GIPSY GENERALLY RESPONDED WITH SPIRIT" 118

AN INTERVIEW WITH MISS POPPLETON 188

"HE PAUSED AND PEERED AT GIPSY" 230

THE LEADER OF THE LOWER SCHOOL