“Marian,” began Anne, “Grace has already told you how kindly our feeling is for you, and the reason that we tried to see you to-night is because of something that I spoke of to Grace yesterday.  I had noticed that you were having trouble in your astronomy recitations, and, of course, we all know that you must pass in all your subjects, both now and in June, in order to graduate; so I suggested that as the other girls have all passed in astronomy, we might take turns in coaching you.  An hour or so of review every night from now until the exams, would put you in good condition.”

“Yes, Marian,” interrupted Nora.  “Anne and Jessica did that for me last year in ancient history, and I never should have passed if they hadn’t helped me.”

Marian stood silently looking from one girl to the other, then she said with a mixture of hurt pride, anger and obstinacy in her voice: 

“I don’t need your help.  In fact, I think the less we see of each other in future the better it will be for us all.  The past three months have caused me to have an entirely different opinion than I used to have of you girls.  You are all very nice as long as things go your way, but if one happens to make a friend or hold an opinion contrary to your views, then the Phi Sigma Taus feel bound to step in and interfere.

“Here is my sorority pin, and I sincerely hope you will elect another girl to my place.  She is welcome to both the pin and your friendship.  I am thankful that this is my last year in High School.”

“You are a foolish girl, Marian Barber,” cried Nora, “and you’ll wake up some morning and find yourself awfully sorry for what you’ve just said.  You are the last person I should have suspected of being so ridiculous.  Why we’ve all played together since we were kiddies.”

Marian tried to look dignified and unrelenting, but for an instant her lip quivered suspiciously.

Anne seeing that Marian showed signs of wavering, crossed over to her side, and slipping her arm around the obstinate girl, said gently: 

“Better think it over before you do any thing rash, dear.  We are not trying in the least to interfere in your affairs.  You know the primary object of the Phi Sigma Tau is to help one another.  We thought that you would be glad to have us coach you in astronomy.  You know how thankful Grace was for your help in trigonometry last year.”

Marian hesitated as though at loss for an answer to this direct appeal to her common sense.  The girls watched her anxiously, hoping that Anne’s words had bridged the difficulty.

“Come on, Marian,” said Nora O’Malley briskly.  “Here’s your sorority pin.  Put it on and forget that you ever took it off.  You are too sensible to nurse an imaginary grievance.  Don’t behave as Eleanor Savell did.  You know—­”

But Nora was not allowed to finish the sentence, for Marian whirled upon her with flashing eyes, her temporary softness disappearing entirely.