Julia Crosby put her head down on her desk and wept tears of rage and mortification.  The rest of the girls looked ready to cry, too.

The first bell for classes sounded and the girls picked up their books.  At the second bell they filed out through the corridor to their various recitation rooms.  As Grace, who had stopped to look for a lost pencil, hurried toward the geometry classroom, she passed Julia Crosby, who was moping along, wiping her eyes with her handkerchief.  Julia cast an angry glance at Grace, and hissed, “tale-bearer.”

Grace, inwardly smarting at the unjust accusation walked on without answering.

“What did I tell you about the way of the transgressor?” said Anne to Grace, as they walked home from school that day.

“It certainly is hard enough this time,” said Grace.  “But,” she added, as she thought of Julia Crosby’s recent accusation, “the way of the righteous isn’t always easy.”

CHAPTER III

A GENEROUS APPEAL

The juniors themselves hardly felt the weight of their punishment more than did Grace Harlowe.  Her heart was set on winning every basketball game of the series.  But she wished to win fairly and honestly.  Now, that the juniors had been forbidden the use of the gymnasium, the sophomores might practise there to their heart’s content.  But was that fair?  To be sure the juniors had deserved their punishment, but what kind of basketball could they play after having had no practice for two weeks?  Besides, Julia Crosby blamed her for telling what had occurred in the gymnasium.  She had gone to Julia, earnestly avowing innocence, but Julia had only laughed at her and refused to listen.

All this passed rapidly through Grace’s mind as she walked toward the High School several mornings later.  Something must be done, but what she hardly knew.  The game could be postponed, but Grace felt that the other girls would not care to postpone it.  They were heartily glad that the junior team had come to grief, and showed no sympathy for them.

“There’s just one thing to be done,” sighed Grace to herself.  “And that’s to go to Miss Thompson and ask her to restore the juniors their privilege.  I hate to do it, she was so angry with them.  But I’ll do what I can, anyway.  Here goes.”

Miss Thompson was in her office when Grace entered rather timidly, seating herself on the oak settee until the principal should find time to talk to talk with her.

“Well, Grace, what can I do for you?” said Miss Thompson, looking up smilingly at the young girl.  “You look as though you carried the cares of the world upon your shoulders this morning.”

“Not quite all of them, but I have a few especial ones that are bothering me,” replied Grace.  Then after a moment’s hesitation she said, “Miss Thompson, won’t you, please, restore the juniors their gymnasium privilege?”