“She is a crabbed old maid,” said Eleanor contemptuously, “and I despise her.  I’ll find some way to get even with her, and all the rest of those teachers, too.”

“You will never get along in school, Eleanor,” answered Grace gently, “if you take that stand.  The only way to be happy is to——­”

“Please don’t preach to me,” said Eleanor haughtily.  “It is of no use.  I am not a child and I understand my own business thoroughly.  When I saw you girls the first day of school, I thought that you were full of life and spirit, but really you are all goody-goodies, who allow those teachers to lead you around by the nose.  I had intended to ask Aunt Margaret to take me out of this ridiculous school, for some of the people in it make me tired, but I have changed my mind.  I shall stay for pure spite and show that stiff-necked principal of yours that I am a law unto myself, and won’t stand her interference.”

“Stop a moment, Eleanor.  I am going no farther with you,” said Grace, flushing, “but I should just like to say before I leave you that you are taking the wrong view of things, and you’ll find it out sooner or later.  I am sorry that you have such a poor opinion of myself and my friends, for we cherish nothing but the friendliest feelings toward you.”

With this, Grace walked away, feeling more hurt over Eleanor’s rudeness than she cared to show.

As she turned out of High School Street she heard a familiar call, and, glancing up the street, saw her three chums waiting for her on the corner.

“We saw you just as you tackled Eleanor,” said Nora, “so we kept away, for we thought after to-day’s performances she wouldn’t be in a very good humor.”

“What was the matter with her to-day?” asked Jessica curiously.  “She behaved like a bad child in English this morning, followed it up in geometry; and Anne says that in rhetoric class Miss Chester lost all patience with her and gave her a severe lecturing.”

“I might as well tell you at once that Eleanor’s opinion of us is far from flattering,” said Grace, half laughing, although there was a hurt look on her face.  “She says we are all goody-goodies and that we make her tired.  She also requested me to mind my own business.”

“She said that to you?  Just wait until the next time I see her,” blustered Nora, “I’ll tell her what I think of her.”

“On the contrary, we must treat her better, if anything, than before,” said Anne quietly.  “Don’t you remember we promised Mrs. Gray that we would try to help her?”

“Yes, I remember all that; but I can’t bear to have any one say horrid things to Grace,” grumbled Nora.

“What a queer girl she is,” said Jessica.  “Yesterday she treated us as though we were her dearest friends, while to-day she scorns us utterly.  It’s a case of ‘blow hot, blow cold.’”

“That is because she has the artistic temperament,” replied Anne, smiling.