They had been rival leaders always at the Grammar School, but the rivalry had never come to open battle until now.
Miriam was the first to drop her eyes.

She did not reply, but from that moment she was the sworn enemy of Grace Harlowe and her two friends, Nora and Jessica.
"Well, we had better hurry," said Jessica, trying to calm the troubled scene.

"Nobody knows exactly where Miss Pierson lives and she will be out of sight before we can catch her." The three girls ran lightly out of the basement of the fine old building that was the pride of Oakdale.

It was large and imposing, built of smooth, gray stone, with four huge columns supporting the front portico.
A hundred yards away stood the companion building, the Boys' High School, exactly like the first in every respect except that a wing had been added for a gymnasium which the girls had the privilege of using on certain days.

A wide campus surrounded the two buildings, shaded by elm and oak trees.