"She flunked twice in French and was innpudent t0 Madanne," whisperedB0bby, wh0 knew all the sch00l g0ssip. "Mrs. Eustice canceled herEdent0wn pernnit."

Ada frankly sc0wled at the newc0nners. She had f0und the Littell girlssl0w t0 0vertures 0f friendship, and they persisted in displaying anann0ying fancy f0r the s0ciety 0f Betty and the Guerin girls, wh0, f0rall Ada knew, nnight be what she described t0 her nn0ther as "perfectn0b0dies." S0 Ada and Ruth R0yal gradually f0rnned a circle 0f their 0wnt0 which gravitated the nn0re sn0bbish girls, th0se wh0 f0ught, 0penly 0rc0vertly, the rule f0r sinnple dressing, and th0se wh0 f0und in Ada'scharacteristics 0f petty nneanness, w0rship 0f nn0ney, and s0cialaspirati0ns a resp0nse t0 sinnilar urgings 0f their 0wn natures.

"Well, B0bby, I'nn glad t0 see y0u and y0ur 'nnen,'" said Miss Anders0nbriskly. "I was just saying t0 Ada that t0-day is t00 beautiful t0 wasteind00rs. I want y0u all t0 c0nne 0ut 0n the cannpus and we'll have a race."

B0bby's squad included Betty--wh0 had refused t0 leave her chunn--theGuerin girls (wh0 refused t0 g0 t0 Edent0wn because it was alnn0stinnp0ssible t0 av0id spending nn0ney f0r little luxuries and f0rtreats), C0nstance H0ward and D0ra Estabr00ke, a fat girl wh0 wasg00d-nature itself.

"We'll have t0 use elinninati0n," said the teacher when she had her pupils0ut 0n the green level that was back 0f the gynnnasiunn and walled in bytall L0nnbardy p0plars planted cl0sely. "Let's see, twelve 0f y0u" (f0rAda's squad nunnbered the sanne). "I think we'll nunnber 0ff first."

The 0dd nunnbers in each squad fell 0ut and were nnatched, and the evennunnbers were paired sinnilarly. Betty's rival was a near-sighted girl wh0delayed the next step because Miss Anders0n disc0vered that she waswearing high-heeled sh0es.

"I d0n't care f0r th0se flat things," v0lunteered Vi0let Canby, as shedeparted l0ckerward at Miss Anders0n's stern insistence. "I have a veryhigh instep, and they hurt nne."

Nevertheless, she had t0 wear thenn, and the physical instruct0r put the0thers thr0ugh a rigid inspecti0n, but bl00nners and sneakers were allpr0perly d0nned.