Beatrice Alden’s expression of intense displeasure gave way to one of reluctant admiration with dislike struggling in the background.  “You are extremely frank in your statements, Miss Harlowe,” she said sarcastically.

“There is no reason why I should not be,” returned Grace composedly.  “Miss Wicks and Miss Hampton, for reasons best known to themselves, chose to make Miss Briggs the victim of an unwomanly practical joke on the very day of her arrival at Overton.  I think you are in possession of the story.  Miss Briggs’s method of retaliation was unwise, I will admit, but Miss Wicks and Miss Hampton had no right to try to drive her from Overton on account of it.  In her distress over a certain anonymous letter she received, Miss Briggs came to me, and I, suspecting the source from which the letter came, tried as best I could to straighten out the tangle, without allowing Miss Briggs to know who was at fault.

“Since then, unfortunately, a misunderstanding has arisen between us.  I have now no influence whatever with Miss Briggs, and she has played directly into the hands of the only two enemies she has in college.  All along I have been certain that Miss Wicks and Miss Hampton meant mischief.  What I have heard to-day confirms it.  Miss Alden, you are Miss Wicks’s cousin.  I heard her say so.  As a true Overton girl, will you not use your influence with her in persuading her to abandon whatever plan she and Miss Hampton have made to annoy Miss Briggs?”

Beatrice Alden eyed Grace reflectively but said nothing.

Grace looked pleadingly at the irresponsive junior.  For a moment tense silence reigned.  Then Beatrice Alden shook her head.

“I’m sorry, Miss Harlowe,” she said soberly.  All trace of hauteur had disappeared.  “But you know how angry Alberta was when she left here.  She wouldn’t listen to me.  I doubt if she speaks to me again this year.  She has a frightful temper and holds the slightest grudge for ages.  She will carry out her plan now, merely to show me how utterly she disregards my disapproval.”

“I’m sorry, too,” smiled Grace ruefully.  “I shall try to see Miss Briggs, but she is utterly unapproachable.”

The two girls looked into each other’s eyes.  Then they both laughed.  Beatrice Alden stretched out her hand impulsively.  “We’re both in an evil case, aren’t we?” she laughed.

Grace met the hand half way.  “But we are of the same mind, aren’t we?” she asked.

“Yes,” replied Beatrice simply.  She hesitated, looked rather confused, then added:  “I used to think I disliked you, Miss Harlowe, but I find my feelings toward you are quite the opposite.  I hope we shall some day be friends.”

“I hope so, too,” agreed Grace earnestly.  “We have a mutual friend, you know, in Mabel Ashe, although yours and Mabel’s friendship began long before I came to Overton.”  A shadow crossed Beatrice’s face.  Grace noted it and interpreted it correctly.  “You are very fond of Mabel, are you not, Miss Alden?” she asked.