into the mud and spoiled her new shoes on purpose. Valancy knew she hadn’t. It had been an accident — and even that wasn’t her fault — but nobody would believe her. She had to apologise — and kiss Olive to “make up.” The injustice of it burned in her soul tonight.

That summer when Olive had the most beautiful hat, trimmed with creamy yellow net, with a wreath of red roses and little ribbon bows under the chin. Valancy had wanted a hat like that more than she had ever wanted anything. She pleaded for one and had been laughed at — all summer she had to wear a horrid little brown sailor with elastic that cut behind her ears. None of the girls would go around with her because she was so shabby — nobody but Olive. People had thought Olive so sweet and unselfish.