had overheard at the reception. She stared insolently at
Anne.

"But what I am about to tell you will perhaps surprise you," Anne
answered evenly. "Miss Briggs received a note purporting to come from
the whole sophomore class. The writer of the note threatened her with
vague penalties if she attended the sophomore reception, and practically
ordered her to leave college."

The girls looked at one another without answering. This silence showed
only too plainly that this was indeed news.

"Miss Briggs showed the letter to Miss Nesbit, her roommate, and to Miss
Harlowe," Anne continued composedly. "She was heartbroken over it and
would have left Overton if Miss Harlowe had not persuaded her to stay.
Miss Harlowe did a little investigating on her own account. She
suspected two sophomores of being responsible for the letter, believing
the rest of the class knew nothing about it. She called on the two young
women and forced them to admit their knowledge of the note. Both denied
writing it. It is evident that they have misrepresented matters among
their friends. As far as Grace Harlowe is concerned she is utterly
incapable of doing a mean or dishonorable act. We were classmates in
high school and she was beloved by all who knew her."

Anne paused and glanced almost appealingly around the circle of tense
faces. Then Elizabeth Wade, the other hostile freshman, said slowly:
"Girls, I am inclined to think we have been imposed upon. Miss Pierson,
I will be perfectly frank with you. We knew nothing about the note.
Personally, I consider it an outrageous thing to do, and in direct
violation of what we are taught regarding college spirit. Briefly, what
we did hear was that Miss Briggs had reported two sophomores for playing
an innocent trick on her, and that Miss Harlowe had urged her to do so.
Also that Miss Harlowe had visited the two upper classmen and, after
rating them in a very ill-bred manner, had ordered them to apologize to
Miss Briggs."

Anne smiled. "I can't help smiling," she apologized. "If you knew Grace
as I know her, you'd smile, too."

Marian Cummings's face softened. "I do wish to know her, now," she
smiled. "After what you've told us I think the rest of us feel the same.
I'm glad you made us listen to you, Miss Pierson."

"So am I," "and I," agreed the other girls.

Anne's face flushed with joy at her victory. "I hope 19---- will be the
best class Overton has ever turned out," she said simply, "and I hope
t