“You said ‘Come in,’ Elfreda,” returned Grace quietly.

“Yes, but not to you,” raged Elfreda.  “Never to you.  Leave my room instantly and don’t come back again.”

“I won’t trouble you long,” returned Grace.  “I came to put you on your guard against two young women who are about to make mischief for you.  I am very sorry I did not tell you long ago that Miss Wicks and Miss Hampton were the originators of the anonymous letter which caused you so much unhappiness.  I suspected as much at the time, and accused them of writing it.  They neither affirmed nor denied their part in the affair, although they admitted that certain members of the sophomore class wrote the letter.  I threatened to take up the matter with the sophomore class if the two young women persisted in making you unhappy, and this threat evidently influenced them to drop their crusade against you.

“To a certain extent I feel responsible for what has followed, for if I had told you this before you would hardly have afterward become friendly with them.  However, I can do this much.  From a conversation I overheard the other day I am convinced that Miss Wicks and Miss Hampton intend to play a practical joke on you on Friday night.  I am afraid that it will not be of the tame variety either, and may cause you trouble.  These two girls do not like you, Elfreda, and they have not forgiven you nor never will.”

“You are awfully anxious to make me think that no one but you and your friends ever liked me, aren’t you?” sneered Elfreda.  “Well, just let me tell you something.  Those girls may have their faults, but they aren’t stingy and selfish, at all events.  This letter here is an invitation to——­, well, I shan’t tell you what it is, but it’s far from being a practical joke, I can assure you.”

Grace looked doubtfully at Elfreda, who stood very erect, her head held high with offended dignity.  Perhaps, after all, she had been too hasty.  Perhaps the two sophomores really intended playing some harmless trick.  Then the words, “We are not going to bother with J. Elfreda much longer,” returned with a force that left Grace no longer in uncertainty.

“Elfreda,” she said earnestly, “I wish you would listen to me for once.  Miss Wicks and Miss Hampton are not your friends.  If you accept their invitation for Friday night you will be sorry.  Take my advice, and steer clear of them.”

“Please mind your own business and get out of my room,” commanded Elfreda fiercely.

Casting one steady, reproachful look at the angry girl, Grace left the room in silence.  Once outside her own door she clenched her hands and fought back her rising emotion.  Tears of humiliation stood in her gray eyes, then winking them back bravely, she drew a long breath and opened her door.  Anne, who in the meantime had come upstairs, turned expectantly.  “What luck?” she questioned.

“None,” returned Grace shortly.  “She ordered me out of her room.”