kes that little white-faced Stevens girl, then the girl is all
right, even if her family were ragpickers. I'm ashamed of myself for
being so silly as to listen to any of Mignon's complaints against her.
You can do as you like, but if it's a case of being your friend or
Marjorie's, then I guess I'd rather be hers."

"Thank you, Geraldine." Marjorie's quiet voice caused the party to turn,
then exchange sheepish glances. "I don't wish you to quarrel over me,"
she went on. "I should like to be friends with all of you, but none of
you can choose my friends for me any more than I can choose yours for
you."

"You can't chum with us and be the friend of that Miss Stevens,"
muttered Mignon. "She is my enemy. Do you understand?"

"I am sorry to hear that," returned Marjorie, keeping her temper with
difficulty, "but she is not mine. I like her. I shall stand up for her
and be her friend as long as we go to Sanford High School. I am sorry to
seem disagreeable, but I shouldn't feel the least bit true to myself if
I were afraid to say what I think. This is my street. Good-bye."

Marjorie walked proudly away from the group. An instant and she heard
the patter of running feet behind her.

"You can't get rid of us so easily," panted Geraldine Macy.

"I think you are right, Marjorie," said Irma Linton, quietly, putting
out her hand. "I should like to be your friend."

And the dividing of the sextette of girls was the dividing of the
freshman class of Sanford High School.

CHAPTER IX

A BITTER MOMENT

Marjorie went soberly up the steps of her home that afternoon. Her
pleasure in making the team had been short-lived. She wondered if it
would not be better to write her resignation. How could she bear to play
on a team when three of the members had decided to drop her
acquaintance? Still, they had not chosen her to play on the team; why,
then, should she resign? She decided to consult her captain on the
subject; then changed her mind. She would not trouble her mother with
such petty grievances. This prejudice against Constance Stevens had
originated wholly with Mignon La Salle. Perhaps the French girl would
soon forget it, and it would die a natural death. Marjorie was not
mortally hurt over the turn of the afternoon's affairs. She had not been
so deeply impressed with the importance of Mignon and her friends that
she failed to see their snobbish tendencies. She made mental exception
of Jerry and Irma. She was secretly gl