would be excluded. Miss Aldrich was not her own
class director, but the girls in it were her especial friends and
belonged to her gymnasium class. They were all "Commons," except
Marjorie Lancaster, a gentle little "Peer," whom haughty Gwendolyn
kept well reminded of her rank.

"I don't like your being so chummy with those girls, and, worst of
all, with that Dorothy Calvert. She's a pert sort of girl, with no
manner at all. Why, Marjorie, I've seen her leaning against the Bishop
just as if he were a post! _The Bishop_, mind you!"

"Well, if he wanted her to, what harm, Gwen? Somebody said he knew her
people over in the States and that's why she was sent away up here to
his school. I like her ever so much. She's so full of fun and so
willing to help a girl, any girl, with her lessons. She learns so easy
and I'm so stupid!" protested Marjorie, who was, indeed, more noted
for her failures than her successes at recitations.

"But I don't like it. If you must have an intimate, why not choose her
from 'our set'?"

"The 'Commons' are lots jollier. They're not all the time thinking
about their clothes, or who's higher ranked than another. I'm thankful
I belong with the Aldrich ten. We have splendid times."

Gwendolyn sighed. She found it very difficult to keep many of her
"set" up to their duty as peers of the realm. "Class distinction" fell
from her nimble tongue a dozen times a day in reprimands to other
"Peers" who would hobnob with untitled schoolmates despite all she
could do; and now to preserve Marjorie from mingling too much with the
"Commons," she declared:

"Well, if you won't come with us, I shall go with you. My director
will let me. She always does let me do about as I like. She's lots
more agreeable than the Lady Principal, who ought to appreciate what I
try to do for the good of the school. When I told her how Florita
Sheraton had complained she just couldn't get enough to eat here, she
was cross as two sticks and said: 'Gwendolyn, if you are a real
Honorable, you'll not descend to tale-bearing!' Hateful thing. And she
comes of a titled family, too, somebody said. Yes, I'm sure my teacher
will let me."

"Even a worm will turn," and mild little Marjorie murmured under her
breath:

"I wish she wouldn't! But, of course, she will, 'cause it's the
easiest way to get along. Yet you'll spoil sport--sure!"

But the Honorable Gwendolyn Borst-Kennard was already moving away to
announce her intention to her gre