into her seat and hastily consulted the bulletin board. The ringing of the third bell found her hurrying from the aisle toward the door. That brief survey of the schedule had resulted in

lle disappear through the big doorway side by side. Mignon was the last person she had supposed Mary would meet. To be sure, there was nothing particularly alarming in their meeting. As yet they were comparative strangers to each oth

ophomore, and continued to hold the door open until Marjorie had crossed the threshold. The latter gave an eager glance about the room. The classrooms were provided with rows of single desks similar to those in the study hall. Mary was occup

y glanced up as she entered and then turned away her eyes? What did it all mean? Marjorie took the nearest vacant seat at hand, the prey of many emotions. Then, as Miss Nelson stepped forward to address the class, she resolutely

definitions pertaining to the study in hand. "You must know these definitions so well that you could say them backward if I requested it," she emphasized. "They will be of greatest importance in your work to come." Then she heartlessly gave out several p

And did you see her march in here with Mary Raymond? It's a pretty sure thing that neither of them knows who is who in Sanford. I suppose Mary, poor innocent, asked her the way to the classroom. Where was Marjorie all that time, I wonder? I'll bet you a box of Huyler'

taining hand o

a keen observer. She had noted Marjorie's half-troubled expression as she entered th

ke me tired. I'm worn out already and school hasn't fairly begun yet. I ha

ur seat in the study hall before the first bell rang. I really ought to have asked permission to do so, but I was afraid Miss Merton would say 'no.' She never

to Mary's cheeks. She experienced a swift spasm of regret for her bitter suspicion of Marjorie. Her t

her friend's arm, "I wish you would tell me some

g to do with Mignon La Salle, or pay the slightest attention to her. She made us all very unhappy last year, particularly Constance and myself. I can't help saying it, but I am sorry that

lse toward a frank understanding died with Marjorie's emphatic ut

I've been seeing that ever since I came to Sanford. But just because she is perfect in your eyes is not reason why I should think so. For my

the corridor, oblivious of the passing students. Mary's flashin

tand you." Her bewilderment served only to increase the rancor that had

happiest girl in the world because I was going to live at your house and go to school with you. If I had known as much when Father and I came to see you as I know now-well, I

school was over. She glanced anxiously toward Mary's seat the moment she stepped across the threshold of the study hall, only to see her friend in earnest conversation with Mignon La Salle. An angry little furrow settled on her usually placid brow. Mignon had lost no time in living up to her reputation. Mary must be rescued from her baleful influence at once. When they reached home that day she would tell her chum the whole story of last year. Once Mary learned Mignon'

smay. Into her mind flashed her recent promise to Constance Stevens. She could tell Mary nothing until she had permission to do so. That meant that for the day, at least, she must remain mute, for C

circumstances frowned upon her dawning sophomore year. But it must come right. She would go to Gray Gables that very afternoon and ask Constance

is with a great plaisure that I see you again. Let us 'ope that you haf not forgottaine your French, I trost you

s accorded this long-suffering professor, whose strongly accented English and foreign eccentricities made him the subject of m

rned amiably. "Some day, when you haf learned to spik the Fre

ntering pupils claimed the little man's attention, she

ck, derisive glance at his back, which caused several girls to giggle, then strolled calmly to a seat. A shade of annoya

he minds of his class. Her thoughts were with Mary and what she had best say to conciliate her. She had as yet no inkling of the truth. She di

she might have expected it. Nothing would be right until she had chased away the black clouds of misunderstanding that hung ove

be better to wait for Mary there, rather than in the corridor. If Mary's mood had not changed, she preferred not to run the risk of a possible rebuff in so prominent a place. T

tonishment broke from her. Only one rain-coat, one hat and one pair of rubbers were there, w

to co