we.

"I don't agree with you, Leona," said Mabel Ashe firmly. Her charming
face had grown grave. "I think that Miss Wicks and Miss Hampton both
ought to be sent home. If you will look back a little you will recollect
that these two girls were far from being a credit to their class during
their freshman year. I don't like to say unkind things about an Overton
girl, but those two young women were distinctly trying freshmen, and as
far as I can see haven't imbibed an iota of college spirit. Last night's
trick, however, was completely overstepping the bounds. If Miss Briggs
had been a timid, nervous girl, matters might have resulted quite
differently. Then it would have been our duty to report the mischief
makers. I am not sure that we are doing right in withholding what we
now know from the faculty, but I am willing to give these girls the
benefit of the doubt and remain silent."

"That is my opinion of the matter, too," agreed Grace. "It is only a
matter of a few days until we shall all have to say good-bye until fall.
During vacation certain girls will have plenty of time to think things
over, and then they may see matters in an entirely different light. I
shouldn't like to think that almost my last act before going home to my
mother was to give some girl a dismissal from Overton to take home to
hers."

A brief silence followed Grace's remark. The little speech about her
mother had turned the thoughts of the girls homeward. Suddenly Mabel
Ashe rose from her chair. "Here's to our mothers, girls. Let's dedicate
our best efforts to them, and resolve never to lessen their pride in us
with failures."

[Illustration: Over the Tea and Cakes the Clouds Dispersed.]

When Elfreda, Miriam, Anne and Grace ran up the steps of Wayne Hall at a
little before ten o'clock they were laughing and talking so happily they
failed to notice Virginia Gaines, who had been walking directly ahead of
them. She had come from Stuart Hall, where, impatient to learn just what
had happened the night before, she had gone to see Mary and Alberta.
Finding them out she managed to learn the news from the very girl who
had declared herself sorry for her part in the escapade. This particular
sophomore, now that the reaction had set in, was loud in her
denunciation of the trick and congratulated Virginia on not being one of
those intimately concerned in it.

But Virginia, now conscience-stricken, had little to say.

She still lingered in the hall as the