"No," Jane answered shortly. "Alicia Reynolds has gone back to her old chums."
"You don't mean it!"
Judith's hands dropped from her hair. In her surprise she let go of half a dozen hair pins she had been holding in one hand.
"Now see what you made me do," she laughingly accused. "Get down and help me pick them up."
"Oh, bother your old hairpins!" exclaimed Jane savagely. "I'm awfully upset about this, Judy. I felt last night as if I should have gone to Alicia and asked her what was the matter. This is some of Marian Seaton's work."
"Of course it is," calmly concurred Judith. "I haven't the least idea of what it's all about, but I agree with you just the same. I'll agree even harder when I do find out."
In a few jerky sentences Jane enlightened Judith.
"So that's the way the land lies," commented Judith. "Well, I'm not surprised. Take my word for it the ignoble Noble has had a hand in this. Just the same I don't believe Alicia has gone back to Marion Seaton. She's merely hurt over some yarn that's been told her. You'd better see her, Jane, and have it out with her."
"I won't do it." Jane shook an obstinate head. "Alicia ought to know better than listen to those girls. She knows how badly Marian Seaton behaved last year about basket-ball. She knows that Marian is untruthful and dishonorable. If she chooses to believe in a person of that stamp then she will have to abide by her choice."
It was the stubborn, embittered Jane Allen of earlier days at Wellington who now spoke.