matter of hours now until she would see her. She could almost
hear her father's voice and feel his hand on her shoulder in the old
caressing way. Smiling to herself Grace walked rapidly on toward Wayne
Hall, so rapidly, in fact, that she ran squarely against a tall girl,
who, coming from the opposite direction, had apparently been traveling
at the same rate of speed. The collision occurred directly under the arc
light. The tall girl gave a smothered exclamation and would have rushed
on, but Grace put forth a detaining hand, saying: "Stop a moment,
Elfreda. I wish to say something to you."

"I don't wish to hear anything you have to say," sneered Elfreda. "Take
your hand off my arm. You can't fool me twice. I know What a hypocrite
you are."

Grace's hand dropped to her side. "I beg pardon," she said formally. "I
am sorry you have such a bad opinion of me. I was about to say that
Anne, Miriam and I join in wishing you a Merry Christmas."

"You can keep your good wishes," snapped Elfreda. "I don't want them."
With that she turned on her heel and walked angrily away from Grace and
reconciliation.

CHAPTER XVIII

BASKETBALL RUMORS

After the holidays a great interchanging of visits began at Overton that
drove away, for the time being, the terrifying shadows of the all too
rapidly approaching mid-year examinations. Almost every girl had brought
back with her some treasure that she insisted her friends must see, or
some delicious goody they must taste. It was all very delightful, but
extremely demoralizing as far as study was concerned.

Santa Claus had been particularly kind to Anne, Grace and Miriam, as
Miriam's muff and scarf of Russian sable, Grace's camera, and Anne's
diamond ring (a present from the Southards) testified. Then there were
the less expensive but equally valued remembrances in the way of
embroidered sofa pillows, center pieces, and collar and cuff sets, every
stitch of which had been taken by the patient fingers of their girl
friends.

Miriam and Grace, while at home, had been given permission to raid the
preserve closet and had brought back an assortment of jellies, preserved
fruits and pickles, tucking them in every available space their trunks
and suit cases contained, regardless of the risk of breaking glass.

The evening after their arrival they had picked out a number of the
choicest goodies in their stock and accompanied by Anne had called on
Ruth Denton. They found her wrapped in t