the earliest opportunity." Grace paused, looking squarely
at the older girl.

Beatrice Alden's expression of intense displeasure gave way to one of
reluctant admiration with dislike struggling in the background. "You are
extremely frank in your statements, Miss Harlowe," she said
sarcastically.

"There is no reason why I should not be," returned Grace composedly.
"Miss Wicks and Miss Hampton, for reasons best known to themselves,
chose to make Miss Briggs the victim of an unwomanly practical joke on
the very day of her arrival at Overton. I think you are in possession of
the story. Miss Briggs's method of retaliation was unwise, I will admit,
but Miss Wicks and Miss Hampton had no right to try to drive her from
Overton on account of it. In her distress over a certain anonymous
letter she received, Miss Briggs came to me, and I, suspecting the
source from which the letter came, tried as best I could to straighten
out the tangle, without allowing Miss Briggs to know who was at fault.

"Since then, unfortunately, a misunderstanding has arisen between us. I
have now no influence whatever with Miss Briggs, and she has played
directly into the hands of the only two enemies she has in college. All
along I have been certain that Miss Wicks and Miss Hampton meant
mischief. What I have heard to-day confirms it. Miss Alden, you are Miss
Wicks's cousin. I heard her say so. As a true Overton girl, will you not
use your influence with her in persuading her to abandon whatever plan
she and Miss Hampton have made to annoy Miss Briggs?"

Beatrice Alden eyed Grace reflectively but said nothing.

Grace looked pleadingly at the irresponsive junior. For a moment tense
silence reigned. Then Beatrice Alden shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Miss Harlowe," she said soberly. All trace of hauteur had
disappeared. "But you know how angry Alberta was when she left here. She
wouldn't listen to me. I doubt if she speaks to me again this year. She
has a frightful temper and holds the slightest grudge for ages. She will
carry out her plan now, merely to show me how utterly she disregards my
disapproval."

"I'm sorry, too," smiled Grace ruefully. "I shall try to see Miss
Briggs, but she is utterly unapproachable."

The two girls looked into each other's eyes. Then they both laughed.
Beatrice Alden stretched out her hand impulsively. "We're both in an
evil case, aren't we?" she laughed.

Grace met the hand half way. "But we are of the same mind, are