d permission!" A look of surprise, mingled with
consternation, sprang into Grace's eyes.

"Did she tell you she had the joyful sanction of the registrar?" quizzed
Emma.

"No--o. She made a half apology for not telling me that she was going to
New York. She said she was not sure of going until the last minute. I
supposed, of course, that she had permission. Why will she persist in
disobeying the rules of the college?" asked Grace despairingly. "What
was said in the registrar's office, Emma, or aren't you at liberty to
tell me?"

"Of course I am, otherwise I wouldn't have mentioned it," declared Emma.
"Friday afternoon I went over to Overton Hall to see Miss Sheldon. Just
as I stepped into her office I met Evelyn coming out looking like a
young thunder cloud. I wondered what had happened to upset her sweet,
even disposition," Emma's tones were distinctly ironical, "and without
asking any questions I soon found out. Miss Sheldon herself looked
anything but pleased and said: 'That Miss Ward is the most insolent girl
with whom I have ever come in contact. I refused to allow her to go to
New York City for the week end and she made some extremely impertinent
remarks to me. She has a condition to work off. I felt justified in
refusing her.'"

"And she disregarded that refusal and went?" questioned Grace
wonderingly. "We would never have dreamed of defying the registrar,
would we, Emma?"

"Hardly," returned Emma. "Even Laura Atkins in her most anarchistic
moods, or Kathleen West with all her thorns set, would have stopped
short of that. I hope the high and mighty Evelyn won't try to drag you
into this affair."

"How can she?" demanded Grace. "I had nothing to do with it."

"Yes, but you rode down to New York City on the same train and in the
same seat with her. She is quite likely to tell the registrar that you
countenanced her going even though Miss Sheldon didn't."

"Oh, she couldn't!" burst forth Grace.

"Why couldn't she?" demanded Emma.

Grace shook her head.

"I think you are a trifle hard on her, Emma. I know she is selfish, but
I don't believe she is malicious."

"I wish I had your faith in people, Grace," said Emma sincerely. "You
always believe them honest until they prove themselves villains, don't
you?"

When the next afternoon, Grace received a curt note from Miss Sheldon
asking her to come to her office at five o'clock, Emma's prophesy loomed
large before her.

"It must be something else," refle