Grace forgot her sprained ankle and laughed until the tears rolled down her cheeks.

“You funny, funny boys,” she gasped, “how did you ever think of anything so ridiculous!”

“Hippy perpetrated the outrage,” said David “and we agreed to help him produce it.  We have been practising it for two weeks, only we don’t generally end up with a scuffle.  I hope you will pardon us, Grace, but the desire to shake that husky Egyptian reptile was irresistible.”

“There is nothing to pardon,” replied Grace, “and we have only thanks to offer for the fun you have given us.”

“It was indeed a notable performance,” agreed Nora.

“Girls and boys,” said Anne, “it is almost ten o’clock and Grace ought to be in bed.  I move that we adjourn.”

“Second the motion,” said David.  “We have been very selfish in keeping poor Grace up when she is ill.”

“Poor Grace is glad you came, and isn’t a bit tired,” replied Grace, looking fondly at her friends.  “You must all come to see me as often as you can while I am laid up.  I shall be pretty lonely for a few days.”

The young folks departed, singing “Good Night, Ladies” as they trooped down the walk.

“What a pleasure it is to have such dear, good friends,” thought Grace as she lay back on her couch after they had gone.  “They are well worth all the loyalty I can give them.”

She went to sleep that night unconscious of how soon her loyalty to one of them would be put to the test.

CHAPTER VII

GATHERING CLOUDS

“A sprained ankle is not so serious,” declared Grace from her nest among the sofa cushions.  It was the Monday after the game.  Her various sympathetic classmates were seated about the Harlowe’s comfortable living room.  A wood fire crackled cheerfully in the big, open fireplace, while a large plate of chocolate fudge circulated from one lap to another.

“Jessica, will you pour the chocolate?” continued Grace to her friend, who rose at once to comply with her request.  “Anne, will you help serve, please?”

Anne accordingly drew about the room a little table on wheels, containing on its several shelves plates containing sandwiches, cookies and cakes.

“Trust to the Harlowe’s to have lots of good things to eat,” exclaimed Marian Barber.  “It must be fun to be laid up, Grace, if you can give a party every afternoon.”

“I must entertain my friends when they are kind enough to come and see me,” answered Grace.  “But some people think sandwiches poor provender unless they are the fancy kind, with olives and nuts in them.  Miriam, for instance would never serve such plain fare to her company as cream cheese sandwiches.”

“Here comes Miriam up the walk now,” cried Jessica.  “She looks as though she had something on her mind.”

Presently the door opened and Miriam was ushered in.  Grace wondered a little at her call, considering the unfriendly spirit Miriam had recently exhibited toward her.  She greeted Miriam cordially.  The laws of hospitality were sacred in the Harlowe family, and not for worlds would Grace have shown anything but the kindest feeling toward a guest under her own roof.