Readers of the preceding volume of this series, "GRACE HARLOWE'S PLEBE
YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL," need no introduction to Grace Harlowe and her girl
chums. In that volume was narrated the race for the freshman prize, so
generously offered each year by Mrs. Gray, sponsor of the freshman class,
and the efforts of Miriam Nesbit aided by the disagreeable teacher of
algebra, Miss Leece, to ruin the career of Anne Pierson, the brightest
pupil of Oakdale High School. Through the loyalty and cleverness of Grace
and her friends, the plot was brought to light and Anne was vindicated.

Many and varied were the experiences which fell to the lot of the High
School girls. The encounter with an impostor, masquerading as Mrs. Gray's
nephew, Tom Gray, the escape from wolves in Upton Woods, and Mrs. Gray's
Christmas ball proved exciting additions to the routine of school work.

The contest between Grace and Miriam Nesbit for the basketball captaincy,
resulting in Grace's subsequent election, was also one of the interesting
features of the freshman year.

The beginning of the sophomore year found Miriam Nesbit in a most
unpleasant frame of mind toward Grace and her friends. The loss of the
basketball captaincy had been a severe blow to Miriam's pride, and she
could not forgive Grace her popularity.

As she walked across the gymnasium followed by the other members of the
team, her face wore a sullen expression which deepened as her eyes rested
upon Grace, and she nodded very stiffly to the young captain. Grace, fully
aware of the coldness of Miriam's salutation, returned it as courteously
as though Miriam had been one of her particular friends. Long before this
Grace had made up her mind to treat Miriam as though nothing disagreeable
had ever happened. There was no use in holding a grudge.