Rhoda pushed through the group of girls with blazing face. Her eyes
were hard and dry. She had evidently hurt her knee quite badly, for
she could not walk without limping. Nan ran after her.

"Oh, Rhoda, don't take it so," she begged in a whisper. "It will
make it so much harder for you."

"I don't care!"

"But you want to be friends with us."

"With those girls?" repeated Rhoda, in scorn. "Not much!"

"Oh, yes, you do. Every one of them is nice."

"They act so."

"They are!" reiterated Nan. "And you made Minnie cry."

"What did she want to throw that water on me for?"

"But it didn't hurt you," Nan pointed out. "You are dressed for
it!"

"Yes," snapped Rhoda, looking down at the jumper and overalls. "I
look like a silly in these things."

"Well, you don't need to act like a silly," urged Nan, keeping pace
with her, as Rhoda left the gymnasium. "You are making it awfully