Grace enforced her words by a vigorous tug, and drew Hope away to her own place. With two flaming spots in her cheeks, Dorothy opened her desk. She was too angry for speech. Grace's compassionate looks hurt her almost as much as Hope's insult. She did not want pity any more than scorn. "I hardly know a word of the History," Hope was saying. "We had some friends in last night, and we were all playing 'Billy-rag'. Do you know it? It's a new game, and it's lovely. I scarcely looked at my lessons. However, I begged a concert ticket from Father, and brought it for Pittie. It's 'Faust', at the Town Hall, and it's supposed to be tiptop. She'll let me off easy this morning, you'll see." "Hope, you're not fair!" objected Grace. "Why not? If Pittie chooses to overlook my lessons on the score of concert tickets, why shouldn't she? She's keen on going to things. Likes to show off her new dresses. I suppose I shall have to get her an invitation to the Mayor's reception. By the by, who's going to the Young People's Ball at the Town Hall? It's to be a particularly good one this year." "I am, for one," said Val Barnett, "and I think a good many of the Form will be there. Helen Walker, and Joyce Hickson, and Annie Gray are asked, I know." "Are you going, Dorothy?" enquired Hope, with a taunt in her tone. "Dorothy never goes anywhere!" laughed Blanche Hall. Dorothy buried her head in her desk and took no notice; but her silence was pain and grief to her. "Hope's too mean for anything!" whispered Ruth Harmon to Noëlle Kennedy. "I'm sorry for Dorothy." "And Pittie's too bad. It's not worth while preparing one's work if Hope gets all the praise for nothing. Why is Pittie always so hard on Dorothy?" "Oh, because Dorothy doesn't flatter her up; besides, she loves presents. I wonder what she'd say if she could hear what her darling Hope says about her sometimes?" "I wish she'd find her out." "She can't, unless someone tells, and I hate sneaks." "Well, I'm really sorry for Dorothy Greenfield. Hope and her set seem to have taken a spite against her. I don't mind if her dresses are shabby, and if she's the only girl in the Form who doesn't own a watch. I vote we make up a special clique to be on her side." "All right; I'm your man! I admire Dorothy she's so 'game'--she never gives way an inch, whatever Hope says she just sticks her head in the air and looks proud." "She flares up sometimes." "Well, I don't blame her. I like a girl who won't be kept down." "What could we do to boost Dorothy up a little in the Form? Most of the girls are like sheep; if anyone leads hard enough, they'll follow." "Well, I've an idea." "Go ahead!" "You know Dorothy's splendid at acting. She ought to take a principal part in our Christmas play." "But she can't rehearse. She's barred the gym. and tied to the classroom for the rest of the term."