"And what she does wrong," added Laura, with some bitterness, "usually affects the rest of us."
"She did not do a thing wrong!" cried Lily stormily. "You girls are just too mean!"
"Oh, come on, Lil," said Bobby. "Tell us the worst. We're prepared for murder, even."
"You are very rude, Clara Hargrew," declared Lily Pendleton. "Hessie is not to blame. She failed in rhetoric, and when Miss Carrington tried to put a lot of home work on her she refused to take it."
"What?" gasped Jess.
"Oh! She did refuse, did she?" snapped Bobby. "And a fat lot that would help her!"
"Well, I don't care!" cried Lily. "Gee Gee is just as mean----"
"Granted!" agreed Bobby, with emphasis. "But tell us how much Hessie has been set back?"
"Of course Miss Carrington has punished her if she was impudent," said Laura decidedly.
"She has punished us all!" cried Lily. "She refuses to allow Hessie to skate to-night. She's out of it."