incriminating piece of paper very reluctantly, and
looked on with disfavour while Patty tore it to shreds.

"I'm fond of justice," she said, "and Muriel Pearson has got off too
easily. Patty, I'm not sure if you're not a little too good for this
world! I couldn't have torn that note up myself, and yet on the whole I
like you for it. You're one of the nicest girls I've ever known!" And
throwing her arm affectionately round Patty's waist, she walked with her
along the passage to the classroom.

During an interval in the hockey practice that afternoon, Muriel found
an opportunity to speak to her cousin.

"How stupid you were this morning, Patty!" she said. "What possessed you
to lean over my desk and whisper?"

"What else could I do, when you'd asked me how to work that sum?"
replied Patty.

"Why, of course you should have written me a note back, and handed it to
me underneath the desk."

"But I'm afraid that wouldn't have been fair," objected Patty.

"Quite as fair as whispering."

"I didn't know either was wrong. You shouldn't have asked me."

"Oh, don't begin preaching to me! You contrived to make it very
unpleasant for me, at any rate, and I shan't soon forget."

"Muriel! You know I never meant----"

"I don't care what you meant. Enid Walker has been telling Phyllis
Chambers, and Phyllis won't put my name down for the hockey final. It's
too bad."

"I'm dreadfully sorry."

"What's the use of being sorry? You should have managed better. I'm out
of the match on Friday, and it's entirely your fault. I wish you'd never
come to The Priory at all!" And Muriel walked away with such a sulky
expression on her face, that no one at that moment would have called her
pretty.

Patty knew it was no use trying to justify herself further. Muriel was
determined to be angry, and having secured what she considered a
grievance against her, would make that an excuse for avoiding her
altogether. She could only hope that her cousin would not give a
distorted version of the story in any of her letters home, and allow
Uncle Sidney to believe that she had been unkind. That would indeed be
most unjust, especially as she would have no opportunity of ever
explaining the true facts of the case.

"She surely couldn't!" thought Patty. "It would be too untruthful. I
hope she never mentions me at all when she writes. Oh, dear! How hard it
is when you know you ought to be friends with someone and you can't! If
only Muriel were Enid or