After supper they had an old-fashioned “sing,” with Jessica at the piano, ending with “Home, Sweet Home” and the inevitable “Good Night, Ladies.”

“I’m sure we had a better time than the other crowd,” said Nora as they all walked down the street.

“Of course,” said Grace, but a little feeling of sadness swept over her as she realized for the first time in her short life she had been slighted by any of her school friends.

CHAPTER X

THE SOPHOMORE BALL

It was the night of the sophomore ball.  For a week past the class had been making preparations.  The gymnasium had been transformed into a veritable bower of beauty.  Every palm in Oakdale that could be begged, borrowed or rented was used for the occasion.  Drawing rooms had been robbed of their prettiest sofa cushions and hangings, to make attractive cosy corners in the big room.

The walls were decorated with evergreens and class banners, while the class colors, red and gold, were everywhere in evidence.  The sophomores had been recklessly extravagant in the matter of cut flowers, and bowls of red roses and carnations ornamented the various tables, loaned by fond mothers for the gratification of sophomore vanity.

The girls had worked hard to outdo previous sophomore affairs, and when all was finished the various teachers who were invited to view the general effect were unanimous in their admiration.

Once a year each of the four High School classes gave some sort of entertainment.  Readers of “Grace Harlowe’s plebe year” will remember the masquerade ball given by the sophomores, now juniors, and the active part taken by Grace and her chums in that festivity.

The present sophomores had decided to make their ball a larger affair than usual, and had sent out invitations to favored members of the other classes.  An equal number of boys had been invited from the boys’ High School, and the party promised to be one of the social events of Oakdale.

Mrs. Gray and a number of other prominent women of Oakdale, were to act as patronesses.  Mrs. Harlowe, usually a favorite chaperon with Grace’s crowd, had been ignored for the first time, and Grace was cut to the quick over it.  As for Grace herself, she had not been appointed to a single committee.  Prominent heretofore in every school enterprise, it was galling to the high-spirited girl to be deliberately left out of the preparations.  Nora had been asked to help receive and Jessica had been appointed to the refreshment committee, but on finding that Grace was being snubbed, both had coldly declined to serve in either capacity.

The four chums held more than one anxious discussion as to the advisability of even attending the ball.