day to hear what I wished to say to you.
I trust, Miss Ward, that, hereafter, you will see fit to observe the
rules of Overton College and live up to them, as a second infringement
of this nature will mean instant dismissal from Overton. That is all, I
believe."

Thus dismissed Evelyn left the room without a word.

Grace lingered for a moment's conversation with Miss Wilder, then left
the office and started across the campus for Harlowe House. Half way
there she glanced at her watch. It was not yet five o'clock. She would
have time to do a little shopping before dinner. Turning her steps in
the opposite direction she was soon hurrying along Overton's main
business thoroughfare.

It was ten minutes to six when, her shopping done, she came within sight
of Harlowe House. She wondered if Evelyn were at home. Of late she had
been more intimate than ever with Althea Parker. As Grace walked into
the house and slowly up the stairs the pale face of Ida Ward rose before
her. She was glad that she had been able to avert the disastrous
consequences of Evelyn's disobedience so that Evelyn alone should
suffer.

Entering her room she took off her wraps and began rearranging her hair
preparatory to going downstairs to dinner. The sound of footsteps in the
hall, the opening of Evelyn's door, then Evelyn's voice declaring
excitedly, "You can do it if you want to," caused Grace to lay down her
brush and involuntarily listen for a reply.

It came, and in Mary Reynolds' distressed tones. "Oh, really, I
couldn't, Evelyn. Please, please don't ask me."

"You must," Evelyn's command broke forth sharply.

"I won't," Mary refusal gathered strength. "You have no right to ask me
and I have no right to do it."

"Then you are not my friend if you don't do as I ask," flung back
Evelyn, "and I shall never speak to you again. Please go away and don't
ever come to this room again."

"I am your friend," quivered Mary, "that's why I refuse to do something
which will surely make trouble for you."

"How can it make trouble for me?" demanded Evelyn. "You know as well as
I--"

But Grace, coming to a sudden realization that she was listening to
something not intended for her ears, sprang from her seat before her
dressing-table and went downstairs, wondering not a little what it all
meant.

CHAPTER XX

A DOUBLE PUZZLE

Mary Reynolds slipped into her place at dinner that night with red
eyelids and a woebegone expression on her small fa