fuge behind her friends' affection.

Therefore both Betty and Mollie had been entreated, even ordered, to
listen quietly to whatever might be said of her behavior and without
protest. And Mollie had agreed. Betty had reserved the right to use
her own discretion and had no intention of not making herself felt when
the moment arrived.

After the regular business of the meeting had been concluded a marked
silence followed, the girls hardly daring even to glance toward one
another.

Rose Dyer coughed nervously, yet as she had been chosen to set Polly's
case plainly before the other girls and to ask for their frank opinions
of what action, if any, the Sunrise Hill Club desired to take, her
responsibility must not be evaded. Of course all of the girls had
previously heard the entire story, but perhaps in a more or less highly
colored fashion. And particularly Polly O'Neill insisted that Esther
Crippen's part in her action be explained. For Esther must not be held
in any way accountable, as both Betty and Mollie had been inclined to
feel.

When Rose had finished a simple statement of the facts of the case and
had asked to hear from the other club members, no one answered. Betty
kept her eyes severely fastened upon Edith Norton's face. Surely Edith
must be aware of her knowledge of certain facts that were as much to
her discredit as Polly's disobedience. Of course nothing could induce
her to make capital of this knowledge, since Betty Ashton's
interpretation of Camp Fire loyalty was of a different kind from Edith
Norton's, as the older girl was one day to find out. Nevertheless
there was nothing to prevent Betty from using her influence with the
hope that Edith might be discouraged from making any suggestion that
would start the tide of feeling rolling against the culprit.

This Council Meeting might be a greater test of the entire Camp Fire
organization than any one of the girls realized. Possibly it had been
a mistake to allow the fitness or unfitness of a fellow member to be
openly discussed; especially when the girl was Polly O'Neill, for Polly
was a powerful influence always and the club might easily split upon a
criticism of her. Whatever should happen, however, Betty Ashton
intended using every effort to keep the Sunrise Hill Camp together,
saving Polly also if she could.

In spite of her friend's restraining glance, Edith apparently failed to
regard her, for instead she glanced insinuatingly toward Ele