David looked at his sister sorrowfully.  He saw there was no reasoning with her in her present state of mind; yet knowing her revengeful spirit, he dreaded the consequences.

“Miriam,” he said at last, speaking slowly, “perhaps, some day, you will learn by experience that the people who give a square deal are the only ones who really stay at the head.  They always win out; and those who are not on the level——­” He stopped.  A sudden suspicion had come into his mind.

“You don’t mean to say that it was you who——­”

But he didn’t finish.  Instead, he turned on his heel and walked away.  In one glance he had read Miriam’s secret.  Now he understood that look of wild appeal, baffled rage, mortification and disappointment, all jumbled together in her turbulent soul.

“Did she really want it so badly as all that?” he thought, “or was it only her insatiable desire never to be beaten?”

In the meantime, Grace, surrounded by a circle of her school-fellows, was telling them the history of her imprisonment.  Miss Thompson and Mrs. Harlowe had made their way across the floor to the crowd of sophomores; Mrs. Harlowe to find out whether her daughter’s cheek had been seriously cut, which it had not, and the principal to ask a few questions.

“Did it look like a trick, Grace?” she asked when she had heard the story.

“I hardly know, Miss Thompson.  I feel certain that I left the door open when I went in.  The janitress may have locked it without seeing me.”

“Perhaps,” answered Miss Thompson thoughtfully, “but the rule of locking the larger classrooms after school hours has never been followed that I know of.  There is really no reason for it, and it might cause some delay in the morning, in case Mrs. Gunby were not around to unlock the doors.”

“You will have to send a bill to father for all the broken glass,” laughed Grace.  “I shouldn’t have been here at this moment if I hadn’t done some smashing.”

Miss Thompson smiled.

“You were perfectly right to do it, my dear.  It was an exhibition of good judgment and great courage.  As for the bill, certainly the victim of an employe’s stupidity should not be held accountable for costs.  But we won’t disturb you now with any more questions.  You deserve to win the game and I hope with all my heart you will.”

There was still a little time left and Grace determined to improve those shining moments by having a talk with Miriam.

Miriam never looked up when Grace approached her.  Her dark brows were knit in an ugly frown and her eyes were on the floor.

“Miriam, aren’t you glad I got out of prison in time?” asked Grace cordially.

“I suppose so,” answered Miriam, looking anywhere but at Grace.

“Is there anything the matter with you to-day?” continued Grace.

“No,” answered Miriam shortly.

“Your playing is not up to mark.  The girls are very uneasy.  Won’t you try to do a little better next half?”