ce she tried hard to keep natural, said that they
would not keep her waiting. And when she imparted the mysterious message
to Laura and Vi they gaped at her, then pulled her down on a bench--it
was noon and they had come out for a bit of sunshine and fresh air
before the afternoon lessons--and showered her with questions.

"But, Billie, didn't she say why she wanted to see us?" cried Laura.

"And who wanted to see us?" added Vi.

"I've told you just exactly what she said," Billie answered a little
impatiently, while her eyes shone with excitement. "She said it was very
important and not to keep them waiting."

"I bet I know what it is," said Laura, almost afraid to put her hope
into words. "It's the secret society, Billie."

"The secret society!" Vi repeated in an awed voice, while two girls who
were passing paused and looked at them curiously. "Oh, Laura, it
couldn't be! Billie, do you think it is?" She looked eagerly at Billie.
Then her gaze traveled on to the two curious girls who were still
lingering within earshot, and she sat up so straight that Billie and
Laura looked at her in surprise. As usual the loiterers were Amanda and
her "Shadow" and as they saw Vi's eyes upon them they smiled
unpleasantly.

"Hello," said Amanda coming over to the girls while the "Shadow"
lingered behind. The latter was not quite as bold as Amanda--nor quite
as mean. "I heard you say something about the secret society. Are you
invited?" The last words were said with such a sneer and the grin on her
face was so aggravating that the girls felt their blood begin to boil.

Billie jumped to her feet and faced Amanda, both hands clenched at her
sides.

"We've stood just about as much as we're going to from you, Amanda," she
said, her eyes blazing. "You've done nothing, you and Eliza, but spy
upon us ever since we came to Three Towers, and I'll tell you right now
we're tired of it."

"Oh, you are!" said Amanda, her grin a little wider, while Laura and Vi,
alarmed at what they saw was going to be a real quarrel at last, got up
and stood beside Billie. Other girls who had come out on the campus
gathered around them curiously. "Well, what do you think you're going
to do about it?"

"I don't know yet," said Billie, trembling with fury--for usually
good-natured, fun-loving Billie had a whirlwind of a temper when it was
roused. "But we'll make you stop your spying and mean tricks if we have
to try your stunt and go to Miss Walters about i