u have been doing, dear? What has taken you away from home so
many times alone? I have been watching you myself recently. When I came
into our room only a few minutes ago you were preparing to slip away."

Sally was biting her lips and had lost her childish look.

"This is not a criminal court, Alice; neither are you the public
prosecutor. As a matter of fact, I refuse to answer your questions or to
gratify either your curiosity or the curiosity of the Camp Fire girls.
What I have been doing has harmed no one; at least I do not think it
has, and I have not always been alone. Old Jean has been with me much of
the time and has helped in every way. But by the time Tante returns I
think I shall be free to tell her everything. Can't you trust me until
then?"

Sally's voice and manner had suddenly changed from bravado to pleading,
but Alice was too angry and too frightened to be influenced. Moreover,
she was suffering from a frequent elderly sister attitude. She felt
herself called upon not only to examine Sally in regard to her
proceedings but to condemn her without any real evidence.

"Very well, Sally, unless you decide to confide in me immediately I
shall be obliged to speak to Aunt Patricia."

At the conclusion of this speech Alice beheld in her sister's face the
expression of sheer unrelenting obstinacy in which Sally was an adept.
It was a contradiction to her pretty softness, her indolent manner and
even to the elusive dimple which recently had vanished.

"I also warn you, Sally, that I intend to watch you and find out your
proceedings for myself. In truth, I am frightened about you. If only
Tante were here she could influence you, but Aunt Patricia will only
become bitterly angry. I confess I don't know what she will say or do
when she learns that I have no choice but to tell her."

If Alice Ashton had one characteristic which predominated over all
others, it was a fine sense of honor, a high ideal of personal
integrity.

As a matter of fact, she had never demanded the same standards from
Sally she had asked of herself. It was a family custom to regard her
younger sister as a person chiefly to be gratified and adored. Yet it
had never occurred to Alice that Sally could fail in any essential thing
such as straightforwardness and sincerity.

"I don't like to speak to you, Sally, or even to suggest the idea, but I
am afraid a few of the girls may be criticizing what you are doing in a
fashion you can scarcely