"Miss Stearns made a better showing at the try-out than Miss Seaton. She was one of the five best players. Miss Seaton would have ranked eighth in my opinion. She was chosen instead of Miss Stearns." "You were one of the judges, I believe?" "Yes. My choice was Miss Stearns." "You were also one of the judges, Miss Brown?" The dean had now turned to Selina. "Yes." "And you, Miss Nelson?" "Yes." A guilty flush dyed Laura's cheeks. "Two against one in favor of Miss Seaton?" commented Miss Rutledge. "Let me ask you two young women this. Were you both satisfied in your own minds that Miss Seaton was the better player?" "I was," declared Selina boldly. "I--I----" The scrutiny of the dean's steady eyes disconcerted Laura. She could not bring herself to look into them and utter a deliberate untruth. "I--it was hard to judge between them," she finally faltered. "They--they were almost equally matched in my opinion." "Still, you must have thought Miss Seaton a little the better player, else you would not have chosen her," asserted Miss Rutledge smoothly. "We had the right to our opinion," broke in Selina quickly, determined to save Laura from crumpling to the point of blurting forth the truth. "That is true," agreed the dean, "provided it was a fair opinion. Miss Martin states that it was not." "Miss Martin has no business to say that," retorted Selina hotly. "She has, if that is her opinion. She has the same privilege that you have," was the grave reminder. "According to the statement just made by Miss Nelson, she was not at all sure of Miss Seaton's playing superiority over that of Miss Stearns. In that case, why did you not order the game resumed, especially to test out these two players? That would have been the best method of procedure." "Because it wasn't necessary. Miss Nelson gave her decision at once in favor of Miss Seaton." "She seemed decidedly uncertain just now about it," said the dean dryly. "As it happens, the members of the freshman team are of the same opinion as Miss Martin. They claim that Miss Stearns completely outplayed Miss Seaton. That it was too evident to be overlooked. I might investigate this affair more thoroughly, but I do not wish to do so. As seniors, all of you should be above reproach. Each knows best, however, what is in her heart." Laura wriggled uncomfortably, looking ready to cry. Selina put on an air of studied indifference. Dorothy presented the calm serenity of one whose integrity cannot be assailed. For a long silent moment the dean's eyes traveled from face to face. Then she said: