n to Polly's information overwhelming her.

But Polly held out both hands, entreating her to sit beside her again.

"You are mistaken. I did not explain the circumstances to you as I
should have. It is all my idea and my plan to have the girls consider
my misconduct and find out how they feel about me," Polly explained
quietly. "I spoke of it first to Rose and then to Miss McMurtry and at
first they thought in a measure as you do. But I don't agree with you.
You remember that our honor beads come to us for obedience and service
to our Camp Fire laws. Why should not disobedience make us unworthy to
wear them? In the old days if an Indian offended against the laws of
his tribe he was made to suffer the penalty. And I don't want you
girls to keep me in our club just because you are sorry for me and are
too kind to be just. Mollie has told me how horrified Meg and Eleanor
and Nan are, and of course Rose and Donna have not pretended to hide
their disapproval, even during their consolation visits to me as an
invalid. But you will forgive me, won't you, Betty?" Polly ended with
more penitence than she had yet shown to any one save her mother.

"Of course I forgive you. But if you had not gotten well I should
never have forgiven Esther," the other girl answered.

Two fingers were laid quickly across Betty Ashton's lips.

"Don't be unfair and absurd," Polly protested; "for some day you may be
sorry if you don't understand just how big and generous Esther Crippen
is. It isn't only that she would sacrifice her own desires for other
people's, but that she actually has. I would not be surprised if
Esther did not have some secret or other." And Polly stopped suddenly,
biting her tongue. Not for worlds would she even in the slightest
fashion betray a suspicion or inference of her own concerning the
friend who had been so loyal and devoted to her.

Fortunately Betty was too intent upon her own thoughts to have heard
her.

"I have to go back to my own room now, but you are not to worry, Polly
mine, not about anything. In the first place, you are not to go home
very soon. I have talked to your mother and mine and persuaded them
that I need to have you stay on here with me. I do need you, Polly.
It is queer, but I want you to come and sleep in the old back room with
me. I have gotten nervous being in there by myself. There is a
mystery about the room greater than I have dreamed. I have only been
joking half the