"I didn't know Miss Pierson had ever been an actress." There was a note of horror in her voice as she pronounced the last word.
"I have always heard that they were very unreliable people," said another miss of sixteen.
Grace was in despair.

She felt that she had lost.

By dragging up Anne's unfortunate family history, Miriam had produced a bad impression that she was powerless to efface.
"Girls," she said, "you ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

You know perfectly well that Anne is innocent.

If you wish to be my friend you must be Anne's also.