n Grace the cold
shoulder more than ever, since the game. They have been following Miriam
about like a lot of sheep. Grace notices it, too, and it makes her
unhappy, only she's too proud to say so."

"Never mind," said Jessica soothingly. "They'll be sorry some day.
Miriam's influence won't last. Grace did perfectly right in standing by
Anne, and you and I must always stand by Grace. Grace is a fine captain,
and----"

"What are you saying about me?" demanded Grace herself, walking into the
locker-room with Anne.

Jessica blushed and was silent, but Nora said glibly, "Oh, Jessica just
now said that you made a fine captain." Then she went on hurriedly, "I
think our chances for winning the championship are better than ever, don't
you?"

"The juniors have been practising like mad since their defeat," mused
Grace. "They will make a hard fight next time. Miss Thompson told me
yesterday that she never saw better work in basketball than ours last
Saturday. I am so proud of my team, even though they haven't been very
nice to me lately. My whole desire is for them to win the final game. I
suppose a captain has about the same feeling toward her players that a
mother has toward her daughters. She is willing to make any sacrifice in
order to make fine girls of them."

"And you are a fine captain," cried Anne. "I felt so proud of you the
other day. You handled your team so well. Knowing how hateful they have
been, it was wonderful to see you give your orders as though nothing had
happened. No other girl could have done it."

"That is a nice compliment, Anne, dear," said Grace pleased with the words
of praise from her friend, for the bitterness of her recent unpopularity
had made her heart heavy.

At that moment the sophomores whom Jessica and Nora had encountered filed
into the room.

Each girl wore a self-conscious expression. Eva Allen carried an envelope
in her hand. She was confused and nervous.

Once inside the door the girls paused and began a whispered conversation.
Then Eva Allen tried to push the envelope into another girl's hand; but
the girl put her hands behind her back and obstinately refused to take it.
There was another whispered conference with many side glances in Grace's
direction.

Nora stood scowling savagely at the group. She noticed that it consisted
of the basketball team and its substitutes. They were all there except
Miriam.

"If you have any secrets, girls," remarked Grace in a hurt tone, "ple