It was rumored that she had been engaged specially to coach them for the matriculation.

So far the High School had been laying foundations, and had not sent in any candidates for public examinations.
This year, however, having a certain amount of promising material in the Sixth, Miss Bishop had decided that the time was ripe for trying to win the educational laurels towards which their training had been directed.
Miss Goodson came from a High School in the north, and brought with her a reputation for successful coaching.

She was well up in all her subjects, but she was a cold and not very inspiring person.

She was apt to concentrate her energies on the clever members of her form, and leave the less brilliant to stumble along as best they could.

Winona, who certainly belonged to the second category, did not like Miss Goodson, while Garnet was strongly in her favor.
In her new capacity of prefect, Garnet proved a success.