"Yes, Gracie, and I don't approve of any such goings on. Johnny looks so wise and important! How I wish I knew what it's all about!" "Why, Cassy, I wouldn't know if I could. I'd scorn to care." "So would _I_ scorn to care," replied Cassy, quickly. "O, of course! It's of no account, you might know." "What vexes me, Cassy, is the way they look down on us girls, and boast that they can keep secrets and we can't, when it's no such a thing, Cassy Hallock, as you and I very well know--we that have kept secrets for years and years, and never, never told, and never will to our dying days!" Cassy nodded her head emphatically, implying that words could not do justice to the subject. "Cassy, dear, you asked me, a little while ago, what I was thinking about; and now I'll tell you. I've been wondering if we mightn't get up a secret society our own selves!" Cassy stopped short, laughed, and said, "Capital!" forgetting that not five minutes before she had expressed contempt for such "goings on." "How many girls will we have, Gracie?" "Why, our graduating class, that's seven. We don't go much with the other girls, you know. I'm so glad you like the idea, Cassy! and, now you do, I'm going to have it. I've just made up my mind!" "But suppose the others don't approve?" "O, pshaw, Cassy! that's of no sort of consequence! What you and I think _they'll_ think--all but Isa Harrington, and we'll soon manage her." "Well," replied Cassy, drawing a long breath, "don't let's walk quite so fast, Gracie, we'll be at the schoolhouse before we know it, and you and I must have everything arranged between us. What name, Gracie?" "What think of calling ourselves Princesses of the-- the-- some kind of a seal? The seal must be golden, or diamond, or something else that's precious." "The Ruby Seal," suggested Cassy. "O, that's it, dear! Our _lips_ are the ruby seal, Cassy, and never, never will they open to utter the secrets of our order. We'll promise to love, honor and protect one another as long as we all shall live. Our motto will be, "_Vera ad finem_." I suppose you don't know what that means, Cissy; but it's "_true to the end_," Robin says." "I've only one thing to say," interrupted Cassy; "this mustn't make any difference between you and me, Gracie; we'll be good friends enough with the others, but--" "Yes, Cassy, good friends enough; but it's you and I that are the _dear_ friends. We'll be "_vera_" --that's _true_ --to the others, but never the least speck intimate. But hush! Here we are at the schoolhouse. Don't you breathe a word, you know, Cassy! We'll take our seats just as sober as if nothing had happened!" CHAPTER II THE RUBY SEAL. The graduating class of the Girls' Grammar School comprised seven young misses, of whom Grace Clifford was the youngest, though by no means the most timid and retiring. They all met on Saturday afternoon at Mrs. Hallock's to talk over the new project.