ndow, and biting her
finger thoughtfully. She longed to ask Charlotte's advice, but she
hesitated to discuss her own sister even with this very close and
sincere friend. She hated to admit Alma's weaknesses even to herself,
and she could not bring herself to speak of them to anyone else. But
she felt very uncertain as to how she was going to approach Alma on the
subject of her friendship with Mildred; for in spite of their
reconciliation, she knew that Alma was not ready to take any warnings,
without flying up with a lot of notions about the nobility of
friendship and so on; true and idealistic notions in themselves, but so
unwisely applied that she stood in danger of losing them altogether
through disillusionment.

"I think Alma's alone now. Have you seen her?" said Charlotte. "The
poor little creature has been awfully unhappy about the scolding Miss
Leland gave her--Mildred wasn't at all cast down and goes around
looking as if she had done something very smart. The very fact that
Alma is feeling so blue about it all, while Mildred is perfectly
unconcerned, shows the difference in the sort of stuff they are made
of. And we must take care that Alma doesn't change under Mildred's
influence so that she, too, will think it very smart to get into silly
scrapes just for the fun of getting out of them."

Nancy sprang up, and without a word left the room.

There was no light in her sister's room, but in the gray twilight that
shone in forlornly she made out a pathetic little heap on the bed. She
felt a lump of pity and motherly tenderness rise in her throat; not a
particle of blame was in her heart--only a desire to cuddle and comfort
her thoughtless little sister.

"Alma," she called softly. A tousled head was lifted from the pillow,
and even in the dim light she could see how Alma's rosy, childlike face
was stained and swollen with tears.

"Oh, Nancy! I _am_ so glad you're back! Oh, don't be angry with me.
You aren't angry, are you?" sobbed Alma.

"Angry!" echoed Nancy, laughing tremulously. "Oh, you poor little
darling--don't be so unhappy about it all." She hugged Alma tightly
and kissed her hot cheek, feeling the tears on it.

"Then you _do_ know about it. It wasn't my fault, Nancy--that is, it
wasn't Milly's, either. Don't think I'm trying to shift the blame.
Oh, I have been so _miserable_."

"Why, dearest, it wasn't anything very bad--it was only foolish. Cheer
up!"

"You see,--you see--Frank