e mother
would be dead before she could reach her, and even blamed the school
that marked the distance between the frantic daughter and the dying
parent.

How bitterly she moaned and sobbed! What abandon and absolute lack of
self-control she displayed, Mrs. Pangborn could not help observing.
This was the character Viola had fostered, and this was the character
that turned upon her in her grief and refused to offer her sympathy or
hope.

"You should try to control yourself, Viola," said Mrs. Pangborn gently.
"You will make yourself ill, and be unfit for travel."

But all arguments were without avail. The girl wept herself into
hysterics, and then finally, overcome with sheer exhaustion, fell into
a troubled sleep.

On the first train the next morning Viola left Glenwood. It was
Dorothy who helped her dress and pack, and Dorothy who tried to console
her.

At one moment it did seem that Dorothy had finally reached the heart of
the strange girl, for Viola threw her arms about the one who had made
such sacrifices for an unrelenting pride, and begged she would pray
that the sick mother might be spared.

"If she is only left to me a little longer," pleaded Viola, "I will try
to be satisfied, and try to do what is right. Oh, I know I have done
wrong," she wailed. "I know you have suffered for me, but, Dorothy,
dear, you did it for my mother, and I will always bless you for it. If
I had time to-day I would try--try to clear you before the girls."

"Then I will make the explanation," said Dorothy, relieved to feel that
at last she might speak for herself.

"Oh, please don't," spoke up Viola again, not quite sure that she was
willing to be humiliated in spite of the words she had just spoken.
"Try to forgive me, and then what does it matter about the others?"

So Viola Green passed out of Glenwood, and left Dorothy Dale praying
that the sick woman might be spared.

"I could not do anything against her," Dorothy reflected. "Poor girl,
she has enough to bear! It must be righted some day--oh, yes, some day
it must all come right. Another Power looks after that."

A long letter from home, from Major Dale, was brought to Dorothy on the
early mail. This cheered her up and reflected its smiles of happiness
on all the school day.

The major told how well the boys were; how they longed to see Dorothy,
and how little Roger had saved all his kindergarten cards and pictures
for her. Besides these a wonderful house m