The hours slipped by on wings.
The start home was made about five o'clock. The juniors and sophomores trooped back to Oakdale arm in arm, singing school songs and making the welkin ring with their joyous laughter.
The people of Oakdale smiled at the procession of happy girls and wondered what particular celebration was in order.
When the center of town was reached the party broke up with a great deal of laughing and chattering, the girls going their separate ways in the best of spirits.
"I've had a perfectly fine time," declared Grace, as she said good-bye to her chums, "and how glad I am that we are all friends again."
She quite forgot when she made that statement that Miriam Nesbit had not honored the reunion with her presence.
[CHAPTER XVIII]
AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR
One more excitement was to quicken the pulses of the sophomores before they settled down to that long last period of study between Easter holidays and vacation.