“It would do no good,” said Grace dubiously.  “She would simply laugh at us.  I used to have dreams about making Miriam see the evil of her ways, but I have come to the conclusion that they were dreams, and nothing more.”

“Let’s try, anyway,” said Anne.  “David says she seems sad and unhappy, and is more gentle than she has been for a long time.”

“All right, we’ll beard the lion in her den, the Nesbit on her soil, if you say so.  But I expect to be routed with great slaughter,” said Grace with a shudder.  “When do we go forth on our mission of reform?”

“We’ll call on her to-morrow after school,” Anne replied, “and don’t forget that you once made the remark that you thought Miriam had a better self.  You told me the day you read Julia Crosby’s statement to the girls that you wouldn’t give her up.”

“I suppose that I shall have to confess that I did say so,” laughed Grace.  “But that was before she locked me up.  She is so proud and stubborn that she will probably take the olive branch we hold out and trample upon it.  After all, it really isn’t our place to hold out olive branches anyway.  She is the one who ought to eat humble pie.  I feel ashamed to think I have to tell her what I know about her.”

“So do I,” responded Anne.  “It’s horrid to have to go to people and tell them about their misdeeds.  I wouldn’t propose going now if it weren’t for David.  He seems to think that she would be willing to behave if some one showed her how.”

“All right,” said Grace, “we’ll go, but if we encounter a human tornado don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“That’s one reason I want to go to her house,” replied Anne.  “If we approach her at school she is liable to turn on us and make a scene, or else walk off with her nose in the air.  If we can catch her at home perhaps she will be more amenable to reason.  But, if, to-morrow, she refuses to melt and be forgiven, then I wash my hands of her forever.”

CHAPTER XXII

A RESCUE AND A REFORM

It was with considerable trepidation that Anne and Grace approached the Nesbit gate the following afternoon.

“I feel my knees beginning to wobble,” Grace observed, as they rang the bell.  “This business of being a reformer has its drawbacks.  How had we better begin?”

“I don’t know, the inspiration to say the right thing will probably come, when we see her,” said Anne.

“If she behaves in her usual manner, I shall have a strong inspiration, to give her a good shaking,” said Grace bluntly.

To their relief, the maid who answered the bell informed them that Miriam had gone out for a walk.

“Do you know which way she went?” Grace asked.

“I think, miss, that she went toward Upton Wood.  She often walks there,” replied the maid.

The girls thanked her and started down the walk.

“Miriam ought never to walk, alone, in Upton Wood, especially this time of year,” remarked Grace.  “There are any amount of tramps lurking around.  If David knew it he would be awfully provoked.”