After she had finished reading Grace stood perfectly still, looking
searchingly into the faces of her classmates. She was trying to gain her
self-control before speaking to them.

She could hardly realize that her own team had dealt this cruel blow. For
the first time in her life she had received a real shock. She took a long
deep breath and clenched her hands. She did not wish to break down before
she had spoken what was in her mind.

Nora was muttering angrily to herself. Jessica looked ready to cry, while
Anne, pale and resolute, came over and stood by Grace. She felt that she
had been the primary cause of the whole trouble. She had borne the girls'
unjust treatment of herself in silence, but, now, they had visited their
displeasure upon Grace, and that was not to be borne.

"How dared you do such a despicable thing?" she cried. "You are cruel,
unfeeling, and oh, so unjust. You accused me of something I would scorn
to do, and not satisfied with that, visited your petty spite upon a girl
who is the soul of truth and honor. You may say what you choose about me,
but you shall not hurt Grace, and if you don't immediately retract what
you have written I will take measures which may prove most unpleasant to
all of you."

Just what Anne intended to do she did not know, but her outburst had its
effect on the conspirators, and they squirmed uneasily under the lash of
her words. Perhaps, they had misjudged this slender, dark-eyed girl after
all.

Before Anne could say more, Grace spoke quietly.