glish Girl Guide, must
have felt many times that you have been neglecting her. She is a
stranger and in a way has the right to depend upon you. Am I
reproaching you for too much all at once, Tory?"

The girl arose up from her low stool and stood with her hands clasped
and a frown on her forehead.

"You have said a good deal, Memory Frean. If you don't mind, suppose
we start back to camp."

Tory made no other reply. After a little she and Memory Frean were
walking along the path that led in the direction of Beechwood Forest.

Tory was no more fond of criticism than most persons, and less
accustomed to it. Her mother had died when she was a small girl, and
her father had been her devoted friend and admirer, rarely her judge.
To her aunt Miss Victoria Fenton's efforts at discipline Tory had
yielded little. Her uncle, Mr. Richard Fenton, made no attempt at
discipline, but had been sympathetic toward her after the birth of a
rare understanding between them.

To-night Tory was angry with the person whom, next to Kara, she had
believed her dearest friend in Westhaven.

Mistakes she may have made in her devotion to Kara. But Memory Frean,
Sheila Mason, her Troop Captain, and her own Girl Scouts might have
appreciated the situation.

She had been with Kara when the accident took place that might result
in the tragedy of her life. Dr. McClain and the two surgeons with whom
he consulted could only say there was a possibility of a future
recovery. But before anything could be hoped for Kara must reach a
happier state of mind and body.

Never had there been any pretence that she and Kara were not more
intimate and devoted than any other two girls in their Troop, save
perhaps Dorothy McClain and Louise Miller.

Then what was one to do but give Kara all that one possessed?

However, if Kara were wearying of this and really preferred the other
girls, Tory appreciated that she was probably being a nuisance. She
would not speak of it to Memory Frean or Miss Mason, but in the future
Kara should not be so bored by her society.

Walking on together through the woods, once Memory Frean attempted to
put her arm inside Tory's. Quietly Tory drew away.

The dusk was deepening. After a time footsteps behind them could be
heard. It was as if some one were following them.

A screech owl called and startled her; Tory had a sudden attack of
nerves; running ahead a few yards, she stumbled. The footsteps were
coming nearer.

Memory F