na Wright and the other
members of the sorority organized by Eleanor were loud in their
expressions of disapproval as to Miss Thompson's "severity" toward
Eleanor. They talked so freely about it, that it reached the principal's
ears. She lost no time in sending for them, and after a session in the
office, they emerged looking subdued and crestfallen; and after that it
was noted that when in conversation with their schoolmates, they made no
further allusion to Miss Thompson's methods of discipline.

There was a faint murmur of surprise around the study hall one
morning, however, when Miss Thompson walked in to conduct the opening
exercises, accompanied by Eleanor, who, without looking at the school,
seated herself at the desk nearest to where the principal stood.

When the morning exercises were concluded, Miss Thompson nodded slightly
to Eleanor, who turned rather pale, then rose, and, facing the school,
said in a clear voice:

"I wish to apologize to Miss Thompson for impertinence and
insubordination. I also wish to publicly apologize to the members of the
Phi Sigma Tau for having accused them of treachery concerning a certain
matter that recently came up in this school."

"Your apology is accepted, Miss Savell. You may take your own seat,"
said the principal.

Without looking to the right or left, Eleanor walked proudly up the
aisle to her seat, followed by the gaze of those girls who could not
refrain from watching her. The Phi Sigma Tau, to a member, sat with eyes
straight to the front. They had no desire to increase Eleanor's
discomfiture, for they realized what this public apology must have cost
her, although they were all equally puzzled as to what had prompted her
to humble herself.

Eleanor's apology was not due, however, to a change of heart. She still
despised Miss Thompson as thoroughly as on the day that she had
manifested her open scorn and dislike for the principal.

As for Grace and her friends, Eleanor was particularly bitter against
them, and laid at their door a charge of which they were entirely
innocent.

Eleanor had told her aunt nothing of her recent trouble in school, but
had feigned illness as an excuse for remaining at home. After attending
the basketball game her aunt had told her rather sharply that if she
were able to attend basketball games, she was certainly able to continue
her studies. Eleanor had agreed to return to school the following
Monday, and had started from home at the