oom
was piled with happy telegrams from fathers, mothers, sisters, cousins
and aunts. The news that the houseboat party was really safe had spread
everywhere.

"I think we had better let them come in and have it over with," Tom
replied to Madge's questioning. "An act such as Flora Harris confessed
ought not to go unpunished." Tom spoke like a man. Even his mother
accepted his judgment without hesitation.

When Flora entered the room, her hand in her grandfather's, she was
pale but self-possessed. She told almost exactly the same story that
she had revealed to Tom and Madge the evening before. Flora brought
with her a telegram from Alfred Thornton, confessing his part in the
houseboat crime. He made no reference to Lieutenant Lawton. Indeed,
Alfred Thornton did not know that the young officer was at Fortress
Monroe.

When Flora finished there was an absolute silence in the room. What was
there to be said? The five girls looked at Miss Jenny Ann, who appealed
to Mrs. Curtis.

"I am willing to make any reparation I can," added Flora. "You can do
anything you like to me, I'm so glad you are safe."

Still no one spoke.

"Grandfather?" Flora turned appealingly to the old admiral, who seemed
white and shaken. He was plainly suffering more than was his
granddaughter. The young people were quiet for his sake. "Won't you let
me tell Miss Morton what you told father and me. I think you and I both
owe it to her."

The old man bowed his head. "You tell them, child; I can't," he said.

Flora grew very white, but her voice never faltered.

"Madge Morton," she began, "you remember that one night before a group
of Mrs. Curtis's friends I insulted the memory of your father. I told
you that he had been disgraced and turned out of the Navy, and you
asked me my grandfather's name, and said you could not speak against
him. I did not in the least understand what you meant, but I knew that
you were deeply in earnest and I felt afraid of you.

"Afterward, when I went home, my grandfather learned of what I had said
to you. At first he was very angry. He said that I had no right to
revive an old trouble. Later on he confessed to my father and to me
that your father was dismissed from the Navy for doing an act that my
grandfather, as his superior officer, had commanded him to do." Flora
looked at the old admiral.

"Go on," he remarked quietly.

"You see," Flora explained, "by the code of the Navy, Captain Morton
felt that he could