A SKATING PARTY The holidays had come and gone, and the pupils of Oakdale High School had resigned themselves to a period of hard study.

The dreaded mid-year examinations stared them in the face, and for the time being basketball ardor had cooled and a surprising devotion to study had ensued.
Since the day that Grace had refused to give up her captaincy there had been considerable change in the girls' attitude toward her.

She had not regained her old-time popularity, but it was evident that her schoolmates respected her for her brave decision and treated her with courtesy.

They still retained a feeling of suspicion toward Anne, however, although they did not openly manifest it.
Miriam Nesbit had been inwardly furious over the outcome of her plan to gain the captaincy, but she was wise enough to assume an air of indifference over her defeat.

Grace's speech had made considerable impression on the minds of even Miriam's most devoted supporters and she knew that the slightest slip on her part would turn the tide of opinion against her.
Grace was in a more cheerful frame of mind than formerly.