er resignation instead of mailing it? She
decided that the more dignified course would be to mail it. As to the
invitation for the dance, she was entitled to it; therefore she was not
afraid to demand it. She wondered if Constance had received hers, and,
when her new friend returned from class, Marjorie managed to catch her
eye and question her by means of a sign language known only to
schoolgirls. A vigorous shake of Constance's fair head brought forth
more signs, which, when school was dismissed, resulted in a determined
march upon Miss Archer's office by the two friends, reinforced by Jerry
and Irma, who had managed to join Marjorie and Constance in the
corridor.

"That's just why we waited," announced Jerry, wagging her head
emphatically when Marjorie explained her mission. "We wondered if she'd
given them to you. You let me do the talking. She won't have a word to
say when I'm through."

"Hush, Jerry!" cautioned Irma. "She'll hear you."

They were now entering Miss Archer's living-room office. Marcia Arnold,
who was seated before her desk, intent on the book she held in her hand,
raised her eyes and regarded the quartette with a displeased frown. Then
she addressed them in peremptory tones.

"Please make less noise, girls. Your voices can be plainly heard in Miss
Archer's office and she is too busy now to be disturbed." This last with
a view to discouraging any attempt on their part to see the principal.

"We didn't come to see Miss Archer," was Geraldine Macy's calm retort.
"We came to see you about Miss Dean's and Miss Stevens' invitations for
the dance. They haven't received them."

"I know nothing whatever about them," snapped Miss Arnold, picking up
her book as a sign of dismissal.

"You ought to know. The invitations were given to you by the boys'
committee," was Jerry's pertinent reminder. "You sent them the list of
names, didn't you? Perhaps you accidentally left out these two names."

This was a malicious afterthought on Jerry's part, but it had a potent
effect on Marcia Arnold. A tide of red rose to her sallow face. For a
second her eyes wavered from the four pairs searchingly upon her. Then
she answered with elaborate carelessness: "It is just possible that
these two names have been omitted. I will go over my list and see."

"Yes, do," advised Jerry, laconically. Then she slyly added: "It seems
funny, doesn't it, that when 'D' and 'S' are so far apart on the
alphabetical list, they should both