“I don’t know,” said Grace.  “Edna Wright?”

“Worse,” was Nora’s answer.  “She’s up in the study hall with Eleanor Savell.”

“Eleanor Savell?” echoed Grace.  “Why she is Marian’s pet aversion.”

“Past history,” said Miriam Nesbit.  “They appear to be thicker than thieves.”

“I don’t at all understand what ails her, but listen, girls, while I tell you my idea,” and Grace rapidly narrated her plan of action.

“I foresee trouble, but I’ll be on hand,” said Miriam.

“We’ll all be there!” was the chorus.

“Remember, Eva,” were Grace’s parting words, “I rely on you to coax Marian over to your house, then we’ll surround her and make her accept our services.”

“All right,” responded Eva.  “I’ll do my best.  Be careful what you say about Henry Hammond, or your mission may be in vain.”

CHAPTER XV

THE PHI SIGMA TAUS MEET WITH A LOSS

After considerable coaxing, Eva finally wrung from Marian a promise to visit her that evening.  She arrived about eight o’clock, and Eva tactfully producing a box of nut chocolates, a confection of which Marian was very fond, the two girls seated themselves in the Allen’s cozy sitting room, with the box on a taboret between them.

Marian became more like her old self again, and the two girls were laughing merrily over the antics of Eva’s Angora kitten when the doorbell rang, and Eva, looking rather conscious, went to the door.

At the sound of girlish voices, Marian rose, a look of intense annoyance on her face, which deepened as the Phi Sigma Tau trooped into the room, and laughingly surrounded her.

“How are you, Marian?” they cried.  “You wouldn’t come to us, so we planned a little surprise.”

“So I see,” replied Marian stiffly.  “I am sorry, but I really must go, Eva.  You should have told me that the girls were coming.”

“Why, Marian Barber, what are you talking about?” asked Nora O’Malley in pretended surprise.  “Why should you run away from the members of your own sorority?”

Marian did not answer, but half tried to free herself from the detaining hands of her friends.  For a moment her expression softened, then she tossed her head and said, “Let me go, please.”

“Marian,” said Grace bluntly, “you have been acting very strangely toward us since we came back from the house party, and we don’t understand it.  You have stayed away from two sorority meetings and have deliberately avoided all of us, with the exception of Eva.  We feel badly over it, because we have always liked you, and because you are a Phi Sigma Tau.”

“Yes, Marian,” interrupted Jessica, “have you forgotten the solemn initiation rites that were conducted at my house last year?”

“No,” Marian admitted, smiling a little.

“Then listen, while Anne, who speaks more impressive English than the rest of us, tells you why we have thus entrapped you and used Eva for a bait.  Speechify, Anne, and we will put in the applause at the proper intervals.”