"What an unpleasant-looking girl!" said one.

"Wasn't that dress a regular rainbow?" whispered another.

"Oh, but she was funny, turning around for us to see her, just like a
wax dummy in a store window," said a third.

[Illustration: SHE WISHED THAT SHE MIGHT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE
SAYING.--_Page 32._]

"She's queer to go off by herself!" remarked the first one who had
spoken.

"We're not very nice," said Betty Chase, who thus far had not spoken,
"that is not very kind, to be so busily talking about her."

"Well, I declare, Betty, who'd ever dream that you, who are always
getting into scrapes would boldly give us a lecture."

Betty's black eyes flashed.

"I know I get into funny scrapes," she snapped, "but whatever I do, I
don't talk about people, Ida Mayo."

"You don't have time to," exclaimed her chum, Valerie Dare. "It takes
all your spare time to plan mischief."

In the laugh that followed, Betty forgot that she was vexed.