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Page 23
Miriam's face flamed. Before she could reply, however, Grace went on.
"Girls you must realize the position in which Miriam's remarks place me.
She is sure that she knows who betrayed our signals, and is willing to
name the person. Suppose she names some girl present. Think of the
feelings of that girl, my guest, yet not safe from accusation while here.
I should prove a poor sort of hostess if I allowed the honor of any of my
friends to suffer while in my house.
"The place to discuss these things is in school. There every girl stands
on an equal footing and can refute any charges made against her. I wish to
say that I have a communication to make which may put a different face on
the whole matter. I know something of the story of those signals. When I
go back to school I shall call a meeting of the basketball team and its
subs. and tell them what I know about it; but not until then. Furthermore
it is not strictly a class matter, as it pertains to the basketball
players alone. Therefore any one outside the team has no right to
interfere. Please don't think me disagreeable. It is because I am trying
to avoid unpleasant consequences that I am firm about having no names
mentioned here."
[Illustration: "You Need Mention No Names While in My House."]
There was an absolute silence in the room. The girls had a deep regard for
Grace on account of her frank, open nature and love of fair play; but
Miriam had her own particular friends who had respect for her on account
of her being a Nesbit. She had a faculty of obtaining her own way, too,
that seemed, to them, little short of marvellous, and she spent more money
than any other girl in Oakdale High School. It was therefore difficult to
choose between the two factions.
Nora broke the embarrassing pause.
"Grace is right as usual," she said, "and none of you girls should feel
offended. What's the use of wasting the whole afternoon quarrelling over
an old basketball game? Do talk about something pleasant. The sophomore
ball for instance. Do you girls realize that we ought to be making some
plans for it? It's the annual class dance, and should be welcomed, with
enthusiasm. We've all been so crazy over basketball that we've neglected
to think about our class responsibilities. We ought to try to make it a
greater success than any other dance ever given by a sophomore class. We
must call a meeting very soon, not to fight over basketball, but to make
arrangements for our dance."
Nora's reminder of the coming ball was a stroke of diplomacy on her part.
What school girl does not grow enthusiastic over a class dance? A buzz of
conversation immediately arose as to gowns, decorations, refreshments and
the thousand and one things all important to a festivity of that kind.
Miriam seeing that it was useless to try to raise any further disturbance,
cut her call short, taking with her several girls who were her staunch
upholders.
Those who remained did not seem sorry at her departure, and Grace drew a
breath of relief as the door closed upon the wilful girl. She had at least
saved Anne from a cruel attack, but how much longer she could do so was a
question. Miriam would undoubtedly bring up the subject at the first class
meeting, and Grace was not so sure, now, that the girls would be willing
to overlook the loss of the signals when she told them of it.
"I shall be loyal to Anne, no matter what it costs me," she decided. "She
has done nothing wrong, and Miriam will find that she cannot trample upon
either of us with impunity. As for Jessica and Nora, I know they will
agree with me."
Under cover of conversation, Grace whispered to Jessica that she wished
her to remain after the others had gone, and to ask Nora and Anne to do
the same.
When the last of the callers had said good-bye, and the four chums had the
room to themselves, Grace told Nora and Jessica about Anne's mishap, and
how utterly innocent of blame she was.
"Do you mean to tell me that Miriam meant Anne when she said she could
name the girl?" demanded Nora.
"She did, indeed," replied Anne, "and if it had not been for Grace she
would have made things very unpleasant for me."
"Humph," ejaculated the fiery Nora, "then all I have to say is that I
don't see how a nice boy like David ever happened to have a horrid
hateful, scheming sister like Miriam. Stand up for Anne? Well I rather
think so! Let Miriam dare to say anything like that to me."
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