“I don’t know, Miss Thompson,” said Grace faintly.  “It all happened so quickly I didn’t have time to think about it.”

“It certainly is a shame,” cried Anne.  “And I know——­”

Just then Grace gave Anne a warning glance and shook her head slightly.  Anne closed her lips and was silent.

“What were you saying, Anne?” asked Miss Thompson.

But Anne had received her orders.

“I am so sorry that Grace has been hurt,” she said lamely.

A carriage was ordered and Grace was taken home, Anne and Mrs. Harlowe accompanying her.  Mrs. Harlowe sent for their physician, who bandaged the swollen ankle, and told Grace that the sprain was not serious.  She refused, however, to go to bed, but lay on the wide lounge in the sitting room.

“Just keep quiet for a few days, and you’ll be all right,” said Dr. Gale.  “You girls are as bad as boys about getting hard knocks.  It looks as though basketball were about as barbarous as football.”

“It is a dear old game, and I love it in spite of hard knocks,” said Grace emphatically.

“I like your spirit, Grace,” laughed Dr. Gale.  “Now, remember to treat that ankle well if you want to appear again in the basketball arena.”

“Grace,” said Anne, after the doctor had gone.  “You know how it happened, don’t you?”

“Yes,” answered Grace, after a little hesitation.  “I do.”

“What are you going to do about it?” asked Anne.

“I don’t know,” said Grace.  “I am not sure it was intentional.”

“Grace,” said Anne with decision, “it was intentional.  I watched her every minute of the game, for I didn’t trust her, and I saw her do it.  I was so angry that when Miss Thompson asked how it happened I felt that I must tell, then and there.  It was you who prevented me.  I think such a trick should be exposed.”

“What a vengeful little Anne,” said Grace.  “You are usually the last one to tell anything.”

She took Anne’s hand in hers.

“It’s just this way, Anne,” she continued.  “If I were to tell what Julia Crosby did, Miss Thompson might forbid basketball.  That would be dreadful.  Besides, the juniors would hardly believe me, and would say it was a case of sour grapes, on account of the sophomores losing the game.  So you see I should gain nothing and perhaps lose a great deal.  I believe that people that do mean things are usually repaid in their own coin.  Julia didn’t really intend to hurt me.  Her idea was to prevent me from getting the ball.  Of course it was dishonorable and she knew it.  It is strictly forbidden in basketball, and if her own team knew positively that she was guilty, it would go hard with her.  There is honor even among thieves, you know.”

There was a brief silence.  Grace lay back among the cushions, looking very white and tired.  Her ankle pained her severely, but the defeat of her beloved team was a deeper hurt to her proud spirit.