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conscience that that is the right thing to do. My secret belongs to me
as absolutely as my clothes or any of my other possessions do. And
because you chance not to approve of it or of them is no reason why you
should steal them from me and give them away to other people."

Again Esther was silent and her eyes filled with tears. What was the
use of arguing with Polly when she was in this mood? Yet there were so
many things that she could honestly say. And one of them, that if she
had had the good fortune to have a mother, she at least would not have
tried to deceive her as Polly was doing.

However Esther was not sure that the latter part of her companion's
argument was not true. Had she the right to betray Polly's confidence,
even though she might consider it for her good? For Polly had begun
her revelation by insisting that what she told be kept in the strictest
secrecy, and she had listened with that understanding.

Unfortunately Esther's failure to reply did not strike her visitor as
indicating a change in her point of view. Polly flung herself angrily
down into a chair, as though intent upon beginning a siege. She was
trying in a measure to control her temper, realizing how ashamed she
usually felt after the flare of it was past. Still she did honorably
consider that Esther's attitude in the present situation was the wrong
one. Perhaps she was being disobedient, wilful, wicked even. Yet she
had made up her mind to take the consequences (at least the
consequences that she was now able to foresee). And she had no idea of
being frustrated in her purpose by an outside person, whose assistance
she had been foolish enough to ask. No, some way must be devised that
would force Esther into silence.

Polly glanced desperately about the small room. There was a big
photograph of the Princess, smiling at her from the wall, the Princess
at her loveliest, with her exquisitely refined features, her delicate,
high-bred air. She turned away from it rather quickly to look again at
her companion. Goodness, what a contrast there still was between the
two girls! They had believed that Esther was improving a little in her
appearance. Yet just now worry and uncertainty made her seem plainer
even than usual. And she had on an ugly but thoroughly useful
chocolate-colored dress that Betty would have made her throw into the
fire at once.

"Betty, it was always Betty with Esther Crippen!" If only she could
reach Est