t she had a piece of news that she thought would
bring a smile to Marjorie's lips.

"Miss Phillips wants you!"

"She does! What for?" This, eagerly.

"Oh, I don't know--hockey, or something, I guess!"

The look of happiness died from Marjorie's face. She seemed tremendously
disappointed. Lily looked at her questioningly; heretofore, the girl had
always been delighted to be summoned by her favorite teacher, for no
matter what purpose.

"What's the matter, Marj?"

"Nothing; only I hoped that maybe it had something to do with Scouts."

"With Scouts?"

"Well--with Frieda, then!" This explanation was given rather grudgingly,
and with a greater degree of impatience than she was wont to use with
Lily.

"Didn't you tell me you hoped she'd come to the Japanese fete, Marj?"
pursued the other.

"Yes; and she did come!"

"But I didn't see her!"

"Well, then you missed her, that's all." Marjorie arose from her seat,
as if to end a very distasteful conversation.

But Lily was not through.

"Marj, is it true that you gave her your pink dress?"

"Yes, it is."

"Oh, I'm so glad!" cried Lily, in the most relieved tone. "Ruth saw
Frieda wearing it--and your sweater besides--and she said Frieda stole
it!"

"And you believed that!" Marjorie's eyes flashed in anger. "Oh, Lil, how
could you?"

"Well, you didn't tell me; and you know she did steal before. So Ruth
thought probably----"

"Ruth Henry makes me sick!" exclaimed Marjorie, now tried to the utmost.
"And I'll bet she got you to pump me----"

"No, not exactly," replied Lily, a little ashamed of her questions;
"but we were both curious to know."

Marjorie shook her head with disgust, and resolved to say nothing
further.

"Where is Miss Phillips?" she asked.

"In her office."

"Thanks."

Without another word, she left the room, and went straight to the
gymnasium.

"Good afternoon!" said Miss Phillips, pleasantly, as Marjorie entered
the little office; "sit down here. I want to talk about the hockey
squad."

"Yes, of course," murmured Marjorie, making a great effort to collect
her thoughts and show an interest in the conversation.

"And I consulted you first," continued Miss Phillips, "because you have
been at practice most faithfully, and played the best of anyone since
the beginning of the term."

The compliment, which should have brought happiness to the girl, only
touched her lightly; she hardly acknowledged it with a weak smile.
Picking up a