“No,” said Julia resolutely, every vestige of a smile leaving her face at Eleanor’s words.  “It would be useless for you to attempt to be spokesman in this matter, because you are a new girl in High School and know nothing of past class matters except from hearsay.  But you have with you seven girls who do know all about the enmity that was buried here last spring, and who ought to have enough good sense to know that this afternoon’s performance is liable to bring it to life again.

“If you girls carry this hatchet to school and exhibit it to the seniors on the day of the game you are apt to start bad feeling all over again,” she said, turning to the others.  “There are sure to be some girls in the senior class who would resent it.  Neither class has played tricks on the other since peace was declared, and we don’t want to begin now.

“That’s the reason I asked Grace to appoint a committee of juniors and come out here with me.  I feel sure that under the circumstances the absent members of both classes would agree with us if they were present.  Digging up a rusty old hatchet is nothing, but digging up a rusty old grudge is quite another matter.  We didn’t come here to quarrel, but I appeal to you, as members of the junior class, to think before you do something that is bound to cause us all annoyance and perhaps unhappiness.”

There was complete silence after Julia finished speaking.  What she had said evidently impressed them.  Eleanor alone looked belligerent.

“Perhaps we’d better let the old hatchet alone,” Daisy Culver said sullenly.  “The fun is all spoiled now, and everyone will know about it before school begins to-morrow.”

“Daisy, how can you say so?” exclaimed Grace, who, fearing a scene with Eleanor, had hitherto remained silent.  “You know perfectly well that none of us will say anything about it.  Why, we came out here simply to try to prevent your doing something that might stir up trouble again between the senior and junior classes.  There isn’t a girl here who would be so contemptible as to tell any one outside about what has happened to-day.”

This was Eleanor’s opportunity.  Turning furiously on Grace, her eyes flashing, she exclaimed:  “Yes, there is one girl who would tell anything, and that girl is you!  You pretend to be honorable and high-principled, but you are nothing but a hypocrite and a sneak.  I would not trust you as far as I could see you.  I have no doubt Miss Crosby obtained her information about this affair to-day from you, and that everyone in school will hear it from the same source.  You seem determined to meddle with matters that do not concern you, and I warn you that if you do not change your tactics you may regret it.

“You seem to think yourself the idol of your class, but there are some of the girls who are too clever to be deceived.  They do not belong among the number who trail tamely after you, either.  And now I wish to say that I despise you and all your friends, and wish never to speak to any of you again.  Come on, girls,” she said, turning to the members of her party, who had listened in silent amazement to her attack upon Grace.  “Let us go.  Let them keep their trumpery hatchet.”