The incredible had come to pass.  Her old-time enemy had become her friend.  She wondered if it could have ever come about by any other means.  She doubted it.  She had always heard that “Desperate cases require desperate remedies.”  The happenings of the past week seemed conclusive proof of the truth of the saying.  Furthermore, she believed in the sincerity of Julia Crosby’s repentance.  It was more than skin deep.  She felt that henceforward Julia would be different.  Best of all, she had the reward of her own conscience.  In being true to Anne she had been true to herself.

CHAPTER XVI

AN OUNCE OF LOYALTY

When the girls of the sophomore class entered their locker-room the next day they found a notice posted to the effect that a class meeting would be held after school in the locker-room at which all members were earnestly requested to be present.

There was considerable speculation as to the object of the meeting, and no one knew who had posted the notice.  Grace kept her own counsel.  She wished to take the class by surprise, and thus make Anne’s restoration to favor complete.

At recess Nora and Jessica brought up the subject, but found that Grace apparently wished to avoid talking about it.

“You’ll attend, won’t you, Grace?” asked Anne.

“Of course,” said Grace hastily.  “Will you excuse me, girls?  I have a theorem to study.”

She felt that if she stayed a minute longer she would tell her friends the good news and spoil her surprise.

“What makes Grace act so queerly to-day?” said Jessica.  “I believe she knows something and won’t tell us.”

“I’ll make her tell it,” said Nora, and ran after Grace.  But just then the gong sounded and recess was over.

As soon as school was dismissed for the day, the entire sophomore class crowded into the locker-room.  They were curious to know what was in the wind.  Every member was present, and Grace felt a secret satisfaction when Miriam Nesbit, looking rather bored, sauntered in.

There was a confused murmur of voices.  The girls chattered gayly to each other, as they waited for some one to call the meeting to order.  When Grace left the corner where she had been standing with her three friends, and stood facing her classmates, the talking instantly ceased.

“Girls,” she said, “I suppose you wonder who called this meeting, and why it was called?  I wrote the notice you all read this morning.  I have something to tell you which I hope you will be glad to hear.”

“At the beginning of the school year, some things happened that caused unpleasant suspicions to rest upon a member of our class.  You all know who I mean.  It has caused her and her friends a great deal of unhappiness, and I am glad to be able at last to bring you the proof that she has been misjudged.”

Grace paused and looked about her.  She noted that Miriam had turned very pale.