arjorie. She was still unhappy over her unjust dismissal from the team,
and she wondered if it had been much talked of among her classmates. At
home she had announced offhandedly her resignation from the team and
her mother had asked no questions.

Mignon was greatly disturbed and displeased with the advent of Marjorie
Dean into Sanford High School. Young as she was, she was very shrewd,
and she at once foresaw in Marjorie's pretty face and attractive
personality a rival power. To be sure, Marjorie's father was not so rich
as her own, but it could not be denied that the Deans lived in a big
house on Maple avenue, that Marjorie wore "perfectly lovely" clothes and
had plenty of pocket money. In the beginning she had decided that it
would be better to make friends with her, but Marjorie's sturdy defense
of Constance and utter disregard for Mignon's significant warning had
shown her plainly that she could not influence the other girl to do what
she considered an unworthy act. Therefore, she had secretly determined
to make matters as disagreeable as lay within her power for the two
girls during her freshman year. Still she was obliged to admit to
herself that her next move would have to be planned and carried out with
more discretion.

And now it was the Friday before the much-heralded basketball game which
was to be played between the sophomores and the freshmen, and the merits
and shortcomings of the respective organizations were being eagerly
discussed throughout the school. The game was to be called at half-past
two o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and from all accounts there was to be
no lack of spectators.

"I wouldn't for anything miss that game to-morrow!" exclaimed Jerry
Macy, as she and Constance and Marjorie came down the steps of the
school together. "I hope the freshmen get the worst whitewashing that
any team in this school has ever had, too," she added, with a deliberate
air of spite.

"You mustn't say that, Jerry," returned Marjorie, a faint color rising
to her cheeks. "You must not let my grievances affect your loyalty to
your class."

"Do you mean to say that you want that horrid Mignon La Salle and her
crowd to win the game, and then go around crowing that it was all
because they put you out of the team? You needn't look so as though you
didn't believe me. You mark my word, if they win you'll find out that
they'll do just as I say. Freshman or no freshman, I'd rather see that
nice Ellen Seymour's team