She didn't really mean to, and she was sorry afterward, but she couldn't seem to help it. What was the matter with her? Was she jealous? But that couldn't be! She'd never been jealous in her life. She struggled against it, bit the sore feeling in her heart and the resentment kept growing.

One week end Nancy's folks were going away. Her father was attending a convention and he wanted her mother to go with him.

"But what about Nancy?" protested Mrs. Morrison. "It's the longest we've over left her alone in the house with just the maid."

"Oh, Mother!" cried Nancy. "I'm not a baby. Besides, I'll get Harriet to come over and stay with me. We can have loads of fun."

Her mother laughed. "All right. But don't talk all night. And don't make extra work for Bessie."

Nancy called Harriet and eagerly poured out her plans. There was a pause on the other end of the wire and then Harriet said, "Gee, Nancy, I wish I could, but I sort of promised Doris I'd stay all night with her Saturday. Look-maybe you could come over and stay with us. Want me to ask her?"

Sudden anger swept over Nancy. "No, thanks! I have no desire to stay at Doris'. It seems to me you could go there some other night and stay with me this time since my folks are going away."

"But, Nancy, I've already told Doris I'd come." Said Harriet in worried tone.

"O.K. Go ahead and stay with Doris. She's your friend now, anyway. Well, you can have her. Goodbye!" And she banged down the receiver, her heart hot. She was so mad that the tears stung her eyes. "O.K., Harriet, you're not the only girl I know. I'll call Peggy Meyer," she thought. But she knew she didn't really want Peggy. She wouldn't be half as much fun as Harriet. Darn Doris, anyway. Why did she have to come along and spoil everything?

Peggy stayed with Nancy and they had fun. Saturday afternoon they went down to the Bulldog; and when Harriet and Doris came in, Nancy looked the other way. When Nancy and Peggy stood up to leave, Harriet looked at her and started to speak. For a moment Nancy almost weakened. She didn't want to be mad at Harriet. She wanted everything to be all right, the way it used to be. Then she glanced at Doris, who seemed to be waiting to see what she would do. A sudden fierce rage possessed her and, feeling perfectly miserable, she sailed past with her head up.

At the nest club meeting they were going to vote on new members. Nancy knew that Doris' name would be brought up and she knew that the vote had to be unanimous.

"Well," she thought, "it won't be unanimous. There'll be one blackball. Maybe Harriet won't think so much of her if she can't get into the club."