"But why?" gasped Minette, before Judith could speak.
"It is too long a story to tell in a moment," Jane replied very seriously, "but you must believe me, when I say, I cannot run."
Judith bit her red lips until her wonderful teeth threatened to take root outside of their limits. She was saying yes, just as emphatically as Jane was saying no. The two heads were all but wagging, and each wigwagged a very different meaning.
"You still feel all that old stuff about being a Westerner and having had squabbles during your fresh year," blurted Judith. "You know, perfectly well, Jane Allen, all the whole college admires you, and you won't let us have our way. Now, do you call that fair play?"
"Well, Judith, I have to think of--other things. You may imagine every one likes me, but I have a perfectly good pair of working ears and I have not wadded them up for the last few days. From what I have unwillingly heard, I can judge of what I didn't hear," and Jane smiled that old-time determined Allen smile, the pride of her father. Could he have seen her now he would have openly rejoiced. Jane assumed a distinctive attitude. It proclaimed "No Compromise."
"Perhaps, if I skip along, you two may fight it out in comfort," suggested Minette. "I'll away--and--see--some--folks," she finished enigmatically. But Judith had the interpretive key.
[CHAPTER XIV--BAFFLING STRATEGY]
"Shh! Ssh! Careful!"
"Keep back, Ted. They'll see your feet!"
"No bigger than yours!"