"Miss Pierson's true character?" repeated Mrs. Gray. "I don't understand
what you mean."

"That she is dishonorable and treacherous. She betrayed the sophomore
basketball signals to the juniors, and then denied it, when her class had
positive proof against her. Besides, her father is a disreputable actor,
and she was an actress before she came here. We thought if you knew the
truth you wouldn't uphold any such person." Frances paused. She thought
she had made an impression upon her listener.

Mrs. Gray sat silent. She was too deeply incensed to trust herself to
speak. Frances looked complacent. She evidently hoped to be commended for
her plain speaking. Then Mrs. Gray found her voice.

"Young woman," she said, "you ought to be ashamed of yourself. What can
you hope to gain by saying unkind things about a nice, gentle, little girl
who is in every respect worthy of all the love and regard that can be
given her? I do not know what you can be thinking of to speak so
slightingly of one of your classmates, and I am sorry to be obliged to
remind you that it is the height of ill breeding to abuse a person to his
or her friends."

With these words, Mrs. Gray turned her back squarely upon the dazed girl,
who slowly arose, and without looking at Mrs. Gray, walked dejectedly
across the room. But Miriam Nesbit lost one supporter from that minute on.

"Hateful things," said the mortified Frances, looking towards Julia and
Miriam. "I believe they are more to blame than Miss Pierson ever thought
of being."