Kathryn’s expression was not a pleasant one. “Belle Wiley,” she said, threateningly, “if you tell, I’ll——well, be warned in time. Now sit down and behave! Have a chocolate. You certainly need sweetening!”
The girl addressed, reluctantly seated herself and their leader leaned forward to say with an intensity which she seldom gave to anything. “I hate her! I simply hate that upstart from the desert. And what’s more, I hate all of her friends.”
Belle interrupted. She was seeing the girl whom she had idealized as she truly was, for the first time, although she had had disconcerting glimpses since Kathryn began trying to win the editorship.
She now said, “I can’t understand why you hate Virginia Davis. I was talking with Dicky Taylor today. We stood next each other in gym, and she told me that Virginia doesn’t want to be editor and would be pleased if someone else had it, but Miss Torrence insists that she keep it.”
“Well, when Miss Torrence finds that the first copy of the magazine is a failure, perhaps she will be glad to let me have the place. She said, herself, that my story was one of the very best submitted.”
Anne Petersen laughed as though at a joke that amused her, but Belle sitting on the very edge of her chair, blurted out with, “Yes, but you know as well as we do, that the story you submitted was not original.”
Kathryn’s eyes flashed dangerously, then she nearly closed them and regarded the rebellious member narrowly. “You are mistaken, Miss Wiley. My contribution was original, as all of my compositions have been since I entered this school.”
“Yes, original, I’ll agree,” Belle hurried on fearlessly, “but not original by you.”
“Oh, I say, cut out the wrangle. What’s the big idea, Belle? Where did you unearth a conscience?” This from Anne, who had put her prettily slippered feet on a stool and was looking at them admiringly. “Say, Kathryn, old dear, those were spiffy silk hose that you gave me. I wish my padre had money enough to buy silk things for me, but he thinks paying my tuition is all that is necessary.”
Then with a questioning glance at Belle. “Where are the silk stockings Kathryn gave you? I thought you were mighty pleased yesterday when you received them.”