newood! There isn't
another girl in the class whose parents can afford to send her to such a
fashionable preparatory institution."

"I know, Miss Prentice. I ought to be grateful, I suppose," admitted the
girl, wearily. "But--but I _did_ so hope Mr. Gordon would write
something about me--about who I am--about what I am going to be in
life----"

"I declare!" snapped the principal. "I call this downright ingratitude,
Nancy Nelson. Suppose I wrote what you say to Mr. Gordon? And he should
in turn transmit my report to--to the people who furnish the money for
all this----"

"That's just it! that's just it, Miss Prentice!" wailed the girl,
suddenly bursting into tears. "_Who_ furnishes the money? _Why_ do they
furnish it? Oh, dear! what have I done that I am treated like a colt to
be broken instead of like a girl?"

Miss Prentice was silenced for the moment. She looked down upon the
girl's bowed head, and upon the young shoulders heaving with sobs, and
a strange expression flitted for the moment across her grim face.

Perhaps never before had the principal of Higbee School looked into
Nancy's heart and seen the real tragedy of her young life.

CHAPTER II

THE BOY IN THE MILLRACE

That summer was much like other summers in Malden. Nancy had been
graduated with some honor; but there was nobody to rejoice with her over
her success. The school had been crowded on the last day with friends
and parents of the other girls; there was not a soul who more than
perfunctorily wished Nancy Nelson "good luck."

The neighborhood of Higbee School was very quiet a week after the term
closed. The serving force was greatly reduced; most of the big house was
closed, and all the cottages. Even Miss Prentice, four days after
graduation, started for Europe with a party of teachers, and Miss Trigg
and Nancy were left practically alone.

But the orphaned girl had something this summer on which to feed her
imagination. She was going to Pinewood Hall. And Pinewood Hall was
exclusive, and on the very top wave of popularity.

It cost a lot of money to go to that school, Miss Trigg had suggested to
Miss Prentice to remind the lawyer that Nancy would need a more
elaborate outfit of gowns, and Mr. Gordon had sent the extra money for
that purpose without a word of objection.

The thought had taken root in Nancy's mind at last that she must be
somebody of importance. At least, she was an heiress. Whether she owned
a single relative, o