“Oh, well, of course—­” began Mollie.  “I do wish I had better control of myself,” she added, rather sadly.  “I start to do such rash things—­”

“Indeed you do, my dear,” spoke Grace.  “But we know you don’t mean it.  Here—­help yourself,” and she extended the candy bag.

“I couldn’t—­I don’t feel like it.  I—­I feel all choked up in here!” exclaimed Mollie, placing her hand on her firm, white throat.  “I—­I want to do something to—­to that—­cat!” Her eyes filled with tears.

“That’s what I called her!” said Betty.  “But we mustn’t let her know that she has annoyed us.  Sometimes I feel real sorry for Alice.  She seems rather lonesome.”

“I suppose the story will be all over school soon,” went on Grace.

“I shan’t mind,” spoke Amy, softly.

“Well, I’m glad you don’t, my dear,” remarked Betty.  “It’s more romantic than anything else—­after you get over the sad part of it.”

“And I am trying to do that,” said Amy, bravely.

Together the four girls came out of the school.  Most of the other pupils had gone home, for vacation days were near, and study hours were shortened on account of examinations.

“There she is now,” said Mollie, as they turned a corner.

“Who?” questioned Betty.

“That Jallow girl and her familiar—­Kittie.  Her name is too good for her.”

“Don’t notice her,” suggested Betty, “and don’t, for goodness sake, speak to them.  We don’t want a scene.  Perhaps Alice only did it impulsively—­and did not really mean it.”

If the reputed author of the anonymous letter, and her close friend, hoped for any demonstration on the part of those they had hoped to wound, they were disappointed.

In calm unconsciousness of the twain, the quartette passed on, talking gaily—­though it was a bit forced—­of their coming trip.  And I must do Alice the justice to say that later she was truly sorry for what she had done.

“There’s Will!” exclaimed Grace, as she caught sight of her brother.  “And Frank Haley is with him.  Here, girls, take what’s left of these chocolates, or Will won’t leave one.”

“Does he know you have them?” asked Amy, accepting a few.

“Yes, he saw me buying them.  Oh, bother!  There comes that Percy Falconer, and he has a new suit.  Vanity of vanities!”

The course of Will and his chum, as well as that of the “faultless dresser,” as he hoped he appeared, brought them toward the girls.  There was no escape, and the little throng walked onward.  Betty kept close to Amy, for she knew just how she must feel after the disclosure.

“Ah, good afternoon, ladies!” greeted Percy.  “Wonderful weather we’re having.  My word!”

“Beastly beautiful!” mocked the irrepressible Mollie.  “Horribly lovely, isn’t it, what?”

“Oh, I say now,” began Percy.  “I—­really—­”

“Where’d you get the clothes?” broke in Will.