“Miss Harlowe,” said the young man, his face darkening ominously, “your tone is decidedly offensive.  Do I understand you to insinuate that I have in any way influenced Miss Barber as to her manner of dress?”

“I insinuate nothing,” replied Grace, rather contemptuously.  “If the coat fits you wear it.”

“Miss Harlowe,” answered the young man almost savagely, “I cannot understand why, after having included me in this house party, you deliberately insult me; but I advise you to be more careful in the future as to your remarks or I shall be tempted to forget the courtesy due a young woman, and repay you in your own coin.”

“Mr. Hammond,” replied Grace with cold scorn, “I acknowledge that my last remark to you was exceedingly rude, but nothing can palliate the offense of your reply.  As a matter of interest, let me state that I am not in the least alarmed at your threat, for only a coward would ever attempt to bully a girl.”

With these words Grace moved quickly away, leaving Mr. Henry Hammond to digest her answer as best he might.

CHAPTER X

CHRISTMAS WITH JUDGE

It was Christmas Eve, and the great soft flakes of snow that fell continuously gave every indication of a white Christmas.  The north wind howled and blustered through the tree tops, making the judge and his young guests congratulate themselves on being safely sheltered from the storm.

The day had been clear and cold, and the entire party had driven on bob-sleds to the strip of woods just outside the town, where the boys had cut down a Christmas tree, and had brought it triumphantly home, while the girls had piled the sleds with evergreens and ground pine.  On the return a stop had been made at the market, and great quantities of holly had been bought.  Even the sprig of mistletoe for the chandelier in the hall had not been forgotten.

“We’ll hurry up and get everything ready before the judge comes in,” planned Grace.  “We’ll put this mistletoe right here, and Nora, you must see to it that you lead him over until he stands directly under it.  Then we will all surround him.  Miriam, will you tell Miss Putnam?  We want her to be in it, too.”

The young folks worked untiringly and a little before five the last trail of ground pine was in place, and the decorators stood back and reviewed their work with pride.

The great hall and drawing room had been transformed into a veritable corner of the forest, and the red holly berries peeping out from the green looked like little flame-colored heralds of Christmas.  Here and there a poinsettia made a gorgeous blot of color, while on an old-fashioned mahogany what-not stood an immense bowl of deep-red roses, the joint contribution of the Phi Sigma Tau.

“It looks beautiful,” sighed Jessica, “we really ought to feel proud of ourselves.”

The entire party was grouped about the big drawing room.