believe you capable of such
treachery," continued Grace, her youthful voice very stern. "I am in a
measure to blame for having trusted you. I should have known better."

The newspaper girl winced at this thrust, but said nothing.

"And to think," Grace went on bitterly, "that I broke my promise to my
father for a girl so devoid of loyalty and honor that she could not
understand the first principle of fair play!"

Grace's bitter denunciation aroused fully the other girl's deep-seated
resentment against her. "Leave this room," she cried out, her voice
rising, her eyes snapping with rage. "Don't ever come here again. This
room belongs to me----"

"And also to me," said a quiet voice from the doorway. "What seems to be
the trouble here?" Patience Eliot walked into the room, traveling bag in
hand. She surveyed the two girls with considerable curiosity.

Without answering, Kathleen turned abruptly and walked to the window,
her favorite method of showing her utter contempt of a situation.
Patience bent an inquiring gaze on Grace, whose eyes met hers
unflinchingly.

"Pardon me, Patience, if I don't answer your question," returned Grace.
"Perhaps Miss West will answer you after I am gone. This much I may say.
She has ordered me not to come again to this room. Therefore, although I
am very fond of you, I feel that it won't be right for me to come here
to see you. Will you come into our room as often as you can and forgive
me for staying away from yours?"

Without waiting for an answer, Grace slipped from the room, leaving
Patience to stare speculatively after her, then at the tense little
figure in the window.

Before she had time to address Kathleen, the latter wheeled about,
sneering and defiant. "If you are so anxious to know what the trouble is
go and ask your dear friend, Miss Harlowe. She will tell you quickly
enough behind my back. Oh, I despise a hypocrite!"

"I cannot allow you to call Grace Harlowe a hypocrite," said Patience
evenly, though her blue eyes flashed. "Whatever has happened I am quite
sure is not Grace's fault."

"Then it must be mine," was Kathleen's contemptuous retort. "Why don't
you speak plainly and say what you mean?"

"Very well, I will speak plainly," declared Patience. "I am sure you
must have insulted Grace deeply or she would not refuse to come to my
room again. I am not going to ask you to tell me what has happened, and
I know that I shall not hear it from Grace unless I insist on kn