w I'll go straight off and get John to bring me in some cookies," she
exclaimed.

CHAPTER XIV.

PAULINE CONFESSES.

Pauline was in such a strait that she made up her mind to tell a lie. She
had never, so far as she could remember, told an actual and premeditated
lie before. Now matters were so difficult, and there seemed such a
certainty of there being no other way out, that she resolved to brave the
consequences and add to her former sin by a desperate, downright black
lie. Accordingly, just before dinner she ran into Verena's room.

"Renny," she said, "I have made up my mind."

"What about?" asked Verena. "Why, Pauline, you do look bad. Your face is
as white as a sheet."

"I shall have to explain," continued Pauline. "I am going to tell how I
got the burn on my arm."

Verena gave a great sigh of relief.

"I am glad," she cried. "It is far better to tell."

"So I think," said Pauline in an airy fashion. "Give me a kiss, Verena; I
must dress for dinner, and I haven't a moment to lose."

"You will wear your pretty blouse?"

"Certainly."

Pauline dashed out of the room, banging the door noisily after her.

"I wonder what she means," thought Verena. "She is certainly getting
rather queer. I am afraid she has a terrible secret on her mind. I am
glad she means to confess, poor darling! I seem to have less influence
over her than I used to have, and yet I love no one like Paulie. She is
all the world to me. I love her far better than the others."

Meanwhile Pauline, with great difficulty, put on her pretty evening-blouse.
How she hated those elbow-sleeves! How she wished the little soft chiffon
frills were longer! At another time she would have been delighted with her
own reflection in the glass, for a cream-colored silk blouse suited her.
She would have liked to see how well she looked in this new and fashionable
little garment. She would have been pleased, too, with the size and
brilliancy of her black eyes. She would have admired that flush which so
seldom visited her sallow cheeks; she would even have gazed with
approbation at her pearly-white teeth. Oh, yes, she would have liked
herself. Now she felt that she hated herself. She turned from the glass
with a heavy sigh.

Having finished her toilet, she wrapped a soft muslin handkerchief round
her wounded arm and ran downstairs. Her aunt was already in the
drawing-room, but to Pauline's relief no one else was present. The little
girl ran up to her