Mimi the page and closed her diary quickly at the first knock on the door of Tumble Inn. She felt her eyes with the back of her hand to be sure there was no trace of tears. Never any time or privacy to do anything, be homesick, or tell all your troubles to your diary.  
The last few days since Mimi had been excused from gym because of her nose, she had found time to get a few things done. She was up with all her notebooks; had every word of her Spanish vocabulary, and today had written the following in her diary. (Mimi always considered her diary a person; a person to whom she told her secret joys and sorrows.)
 
Oh, Diary, there’s no one to tell but you how it hurts not to be forward on the basket ball team. If I wasn’t such a good player it wouldn’t be so bad but I am good. I can and and shoot. Yes, I know what I’ve resolved to do. I am going to spend every spare minute of my free time in the gym at goal practice as soon as they’ll let me. There’s always room for a crack shot on any team. I’ll be one.
 
Do you know what I’ve discovered? I must be to Pollyanna. I have found several consoling things about having a “busted snoot.” First place, I couldn’t wear an “S” if I had made the basket ball team; no Prep can. Those class numerals wouldn’t mean so much—I’d always be explaining them after I got home.
 
Betsy must like me, Diary Dear. That first night when I could not go to supper, she brought me her dessert (oh me! I shall probably die wondering if there is one “s” or two “sses” in dessert). Chloe has been sweet, too, but she acts so strange. Every time we are alone she acts like she wants to tell me something and can’t. There is something queer about her—Oh here comes somebody—No, it wasn’t; they passed by.
 
I don’t know why I don’t want any one to know I keep you, Diary, unless it’s because some one might try to find you and then I should die! It’s no fun to have you if I can’t tell you my very insidest thoughts. Sue is the only one who knows and she won’t tell. Here’s the most private thing I have to say today:
 
I am getting popular!
 
I know it. The Delphians and the Ruskins are both trying to get me to promise to join their society. I don’t know what to do. I’m so thrilled to be asked but the Ruskins want Sue and the Delphians want Chloe and Betsy is already a Ruskin. I hate to see our family split up. Maybe I won’t join either. They seem silly, in a way; the Ruskins on themselves and the Delphians and the Delphians slurring the Ruskins and bragging on themselves. But the pins are precious! Solid gold with tiny pearls.
 
There really is some one coming—
 
“Anybody home?” Madge called at the door of two hundred and nine.
 
“Just me,” Mimi answered hastily hiding her diary in the top drawer of her wardrobe trunk. “I’m in the sitting room—Come on through.”
 
Mimi could tell Madge was upset. She was paler than usual and her hazel eyes were bright. But she didn’t seem happy. Mimi felt she was not up to hearing any bad news.
 
“Are you keeping training?” Mimi asked.
 
“No, I’m not that good. Oh, Mimi, since—the other night, I’ve I’m not good for anything.”
 
“Don’t be foolish, Madge. Here try some peanut butter on a graham and forget it. Another advantage of a swollen nose, I can eat and eat and eat!”
 
“I don’t want to forget it until I tell you something—then, if you please, let’s both forget it. You see, Mimi, I came to thank you for keeping me out of a scrape. I didn’t stop to think—I never do—and I can not take a dare; I simply can’t.”
 
“I can’t either,” Mimi admitted. “I don’t know why I ever in, an excitement-eater like me, but I did.”
 
“And I’m so glad, so glad.” Madge pulled herself together for the final . “Mimi,” she said levelly, “I am in school this year on borrowed money. I wouldn’t have come at all if I were not going to graduate. Suppose I had rung the alarm and they had caught me and sent me home? I would hate myself the rest of my life.”
 
“I’m glad I butted in then. But let’s forget. You—you make me feel like a heroine—and I’m not!”
 
“Yes, you are—you’re the grandest all around sport in school—you and Betsy.”
 
While she was in a mood she continued:
 
“Every one in Prep Hall is sorry you won’t be on our team. Betsy is sorriest of all. She keeps going around saying it was all her fault but she is going to make up to you for it. She is—please, cross your heart not to tell a soul. She wants to surprise—”
 
But before Mimi had time to promise, Sue dashed in to get her music, leave Mimi a candy bar and a letter from Jean. Before she left for her practice room, Chloe was home. She seemed quieter and more occupied with her own thoughts than usual.
 
So beautiful, Mimi was thinking as she watched Chloe stare out the window, so perfectly beautiful like a Magnolia or a lily or a tube rose; something that darkens and if you touch it. Chloe’s mother must have been beautiful, too—and what about her father? All the girls knew about Chloe’s family was that her allowance came from her Aunt Marcia. Bad as they wanted to know, they did not ask. Maybe her parents were divorced. Her mother must have been so beautiful that men might have kept on falling in love with her.
 
“Guess I’d better go,” Madge said putting the top back on the peanut butter jar. She had been eating and hoping Chloe would leave as Sue had but Chloe seemed settled for the afternoon. “Please, don’t mention anything I’ve told you.”
 
“Certainly not.”
 
Giving Mimi an impetuous hug she hurried out.
 
“Isn’t she queer?” Mimi said to Chloe.
 
“Kind of. Almost as queer as I am,” Chloe answered quietly.
 
“You, queer?”
 
“Don’t pretend, Mimi. You know I am. Someday I’ll tell you about it and maybe you’ll understand. Oh , I am supposed to be at meeting in this minute. All the Preps—
 
“No one told me about a meeting.”
 
Chloe colored.
 
“Maybe it’s art students only. I’d keep quiet if I were you. Be a lady of leisure while you have a chance. If you were supposed to go and they call your name, I’ll say you are excused.”
 
By the time Chloe finished talking she had closed the door and Mimi heard her join Olivia and Gretchen.
 
“Aren’t you lending your charming presence to the ?” she heard Olivia ask some girl who was evidently in a great hurry.
 
“Certainly, I am. Who do you think called this meeting?” The breathless voice was Betsy’s.
 
So? Mimi figured. That “something nice” is going to happen today. What ca............