ut I'm
not sorry she got a good ducking. She deserved something for the way she
dragged Anne into that game of crack the whip."

"Let's talk about something pleasant," proposed Reddy.

"Me, for instance," said Hippy, with a Cheshire cat grin. "I am a thing of
beauty, and, consequently, a joy forever."

"Smother him with a sofa pillow!" commanded Tom. "He is too conceited to
live."

Reddy seized the unfortunate Hippy by the back of the neck, while David
covered the fat youth with pillows until only his feet were visible and
the smothering process was carried on with great glee until Nora
mercifully came to his rescue.

CHAPTER XV

A BELATED REPENTANCE

The following Monday as Grace Harlowe was about to leave the schoolroom,
Julia Crosby's younger sister, one of the freshman class, handed her a
note. It was from Julia, and read as follows:

"DEAR GRACE:

"Will you come and see me this afternoon when school is over? I
have a severe cold, and am unable to be out of bed. I have
something I must say to you that cannot wait until I get back to
school.

"Your sincere friend,

"JULIA"

"Oh, dear!" thought Grace. "I don't want to go up there. Her mother will
fall upon my neck and weep, and tell me I saved Julia's life. I know her
of old. She's one of the weeping kind. I suppose it's my duty to go,
however."

Grace's prognostication was fulfilled to the letter. Mrs. Crosby clasped
her in a tumultuous embrace the moment she entered the hall. Grace finally
escaped from her, and was shown up to Julia's room.

She looked about her with some curiosity. It was a light airy room,
daintily furnished. Julia was lying on the pretty brass bed in one corner
of the room. She wore a dressing gown of pale blue eiderdown, and Grace
thought she had never seen her old enemy look better.

"How do you do, Julia?" she said, walking over to the bed and holding out
her hand to the invalid.

"Not very well," responded Julia hoarsely. "I have a bad cold and am too
weak to be up."

"I'm sorry," said Grace, "the wetting didn't hurt me in the least. But, of
course, I wasn't in the water like you were. It didn't hurt Tom, either."

"I'm glad you are both all right," said Julia.

She looked solemnly at Grace, and then said hesitatingly, "Grace, I didn't
deserve to be rescued the other day. I've been awfully mean to you." She
buried her face in the bed clothing and sobbed convulsive