commented cheerfully, as though enjoying
her classmate's discomfiture.

Marjorie made no reply. Her proud spirit was too deeply crushed for
words. She went through her recitation in English that morning like one
in a dream. Several times during her French hour she gazed appealingly
at Constance, but the Mary girl kept her fair head turned resolutely
away. She did not appear at her locker either at noon or after school
was over, although Marjorie lingered, in the hope that she would come.

So successfully did she manage to steer clear of Marjorie, who was too
proud to make advances in the face of Constance's marked avoidance,
that, when Friday came and the afternoon session was over, Marjorie was
escorted to the gymnasium by the Picture Girl and her friends, who, even
to Mignon, believed that the newcomer had been wise and taken their
brusque advice.

At least half of the freshman class had elected to try for a place on
the team. Miss Randall, the instructor in gymnastics, and several
seniors had been chosen to pick the team, and when the six girls arrived
on the scene the testing had begun. Mignon La Salle was the first of
their group to play. Her almost marvelous agility, her quick, catlike
springs and her fleetness of foot called forth unstinted praise from
Marjorie. Muriel, too, played a skilful game; so did Susan Atwell. When
Marjorie was called upon to play left guard on a team composed of the
last lot of aspirants for basketball honors, she advanced to her
position rather nervously. Muriel, Mignon, Susan Atwell and two
freshmen, whom she did not know, were to oppose her. She wondered if she
could play fast enough to keep up with her clever opponents. Then, as
she caught the French girl's elfish eyes fixed upon her, mocking
incredulity in their depths, she rallied her doubting spirit and
resolved to outplay even Mignon.

Fifteen minutes later Marjorie Dean had been chosen to play left guard
on a team of which Mignon was center, Muriel, right guard, Susan Atwell,
right forward, and a freshman named Harriet Delaney, left forward.
Muriel had also been made captain, and several girls were chosen as
substitutes.

"Hurrah for the new team!" cried Muriel Harding. "Let's call ourselves
the Invincibles. You certainly can play basketball, Miss Dean. How lucky
in you to come to Sanford just when we need you. By the way, 'Miss Dean'
is too formal. Please let us call you Marjorie. You can call us by our
first names. What'