ndow jamb and wept
bitterly.

But the address of Mark Anthony over the dead body of Caesar was not more
effective than this simple schoolgirl's speech. Every girl there melted
into tears of remorse and sympathy.

"Oh, Grace," cried Marian Barber, "won't you forgive us? We never dreamed
it would hurt you so. Now that I look back upon it, I can't see how we
could have asked you to do it. We did believe that Miss Pierson betrayed
us; but after all, that had nothing to do with your being captain of the
team. I think you have been a great deal more loyal than we have. I want
to say right here, girls, that I apologize to Grace and scratch my name
off the list."

She took a pencil, dashing it through her signature, which was the first
one on the letter.

One by one each of the other girls put a pencil stroke through her name.

Then they pinned on their hats, slipped into their coats and left the room
as quickly as possible. They were all desperately ashamed; each in her
secret heart wished she had never entered into the conspiracy.

They had given the captaincy to Grace, and after all, they had no right to
take away what they had freely given, and for no better reason than that
Grace was loyal to a friend whom they distrusted.

It was a cruel thing that they had done. They admitted it to each other
now, and wished they had never listened to Miriam Nesbit.

Speaking of Miriam, who was to tell her that she had not supplanted Grace
after all, as captain of the team.

"You are all cowards," exclaimed Marian Barber still buoyed up by her
recent emotions, "I am not afraid of Miriam, or anyone else, and I'll
undertake to tell her."

But at the last moment she determined to break the news by letter.

In the meantime, Miss Thompson had quietly entered the locker-room, where
Grace and her three chums were still standing.

"Grace," said the principal, "I was passing by and I could not help
overhearing what has been said, and while I don't care to enter into the
little private quarrels of my girls, I want to tell you that you made a
noble defense of your position. I am very proud of you, my child." Miss
Thompson put her arms around the weeping girl and kissed her. "I wish
every girl in my school would make such a stand for her principles. You
were right not to have resigned. Always do what your judgment tells you is
right, no matter what the result is, and don't give up the captaincy!"

CHAPTER XIII

A SKATING PARTY