"Oh, I couldn't think of weighing you girls down with my cares," replied Anne soberly. "I must work out my own salvation."
By this time they had turned out of High School Street and were moving in the direction of Grace's home, where the majority of their chats took place, when Nora suddenly exclaimed in a low tone:
"Look, girls, there is Eleanor Savelli!"
"Where? where?" demanded three eager voices, as their owners followed Nora's glance.
"Across the street," replied Nora. "Don't let her know that we are looking at her."
Sure enough, on the opposite side of the street, Eleanor Savelli was to be seen strolling along in company with Edna Wright and Daisy Culver, two seniors who had been her faithful followers since her advent in Oakdale.
"Excitement number one," remarked Nora. "The fair Eleanor comes and our peace of mind departs. I had cherished vain hopes that she wouldn't favor us with the light of her countenance this year, even though she did inform Grace of her laudable desire to stay with the seniors for pure spite."
"Never mind, Nora," said Jessica, "I don't believe she'll worry herself about us, even though she did make dire threats."
"Remember what I told you last year, girls," said Grace in a tone of admonition. "Be careful what you do and say whenever she is near. She despises the Phi Sigma Tau and would revenge herself upon us at the slightest opportunity. She comes of a race who swear vendettas."
"She better not swear any when I am around," retorted Nora with spirit, "or she will find that the Irish are equal to the occasion."