son told her it was a fanciful delusion. Her nervous
organization was no longer under the control of reason. Esther gave a
quick scream, and fell to the floor, fainting.

In an instant a white sheet was thrown from the shoulders of the figure
by the telescope.

"Esther, Esther! It's only I--Marie!" she cried. "I followed you up
stairs just to frighten you for fun. Do speak to me. Tell me I haven't
scared you to death!"

After a little Esther regained consciousness, shuddering as she opened
her eyes and remembered where she was.

"Take me away--take me away!" she begged, recognizing Marie.

"I will have to bring help."

"No, no; don't leave me alone a minute. I can walk if you will help me.
And bring the lamp. I can't go down those stairs in the dark. Don't go
away or that dreadful thing may come back."

She shivered as she glanced toward the telescope. Marie was weeping
penitently.

"Dear Esther," she said, "don't you see that it was only I. There is the
sheet on the floor. I didn't know it would make you faint. Only say you
forgive me, and I'll take any punishment Mrs. Hosmer chooses to give
me."

"Oh, Marie, I know you didn't mean it, but I can never forget that awful
feeling when I felt myself falling. But help me away from this ghostly
place."

Marie, frightened at the result of her heartless trick and really deeply
touched by Esther's distress, helped her to their room.

Then, notwithstanding Esther's magnanimous offer to keep the whole
matter a secret, to Marie's credit be it said that she sent for Mrs.
Hosmer and confessed the whole thing.

"Give me the hardest punishment you can, short of expulsion," said she.

"You have done a great wrong," replied Mrs. Hosmer. "You deserve severe
punishment, but I shall not decide about that now. For the next few days
you may show your penitence by doing all you can to make up to this dear
child for your past great unkindness. She must stay in bed for a day or
two, and I shall have the doctor in shortly."

Esther was ill for a week, during which time Marie nursed her devotedly.
She saw now her past conduct in its true light--her petty vanity, her
thoughtlessness and heartlessness.

She fairly hated her old self, when, as the girls came in from time to
time, Esther uttered no word of complaint against her, nor alluded to
the cause of her illness in any way.

But in some way or other a part of the story leaked out, and Marie was
the recipient of many an indi