d our plans. Why, we scarcely said
a dozen words about college and Europe!"

"But I did it all for your sake," was all Eleanor could offer in
self-defense.

"That's just it! I _will not_ have any one say they had to tell lies to
help me along. If I can't paddle my own canoe through the rapids, I can
go ashore. But I will balk every time another tries to turn me from the
course I know to be my true one. So there!"

"Polly dearest! Do you mean that after all I have done to get Dad here
and win your father's consent to your going, that you refuse to leave
home--just because I colored my words a bit too vividly?"

"You can color your words as rashly and with as vivid colors as you
choose, Nolla, but I say that when you begin to infer that the coloring
is of _my_ choosing and that I am in hearty sympathy with the way you
win out in matters, then I will balk and if necessary, deny it in the
future. I _hate_ color when it is daubed on falsely!"

Eleanor stood self-conscious of her mistakes, and Polly sent her one
sorry look and then walked into her room. Eleanor did not dare follow as
she was too awed by her friend's honest speech. And she admired Polly
all the more for daring to tell her the unvarnished truth about her
proclivity to prevaricate.

"It always was my weak spot," grumbled Eleanor to herself, as she walked
slowly to the kitchen to see if Sary was there to keep her company. But
the big cool kitchen was empty, so the girl sat down in the wooden chair
and thought.

[Illustration: "WHO ASKED YOU TO HELP ME OUT?" DEMANDED POLLY.

_Polly and Eleanor_ _Page 257_]

"If I had had a different training maybe I wouldn't be so ready to lie,"
murmured Eleanor. Then, suddenly sneering at herself she added: "Poor
fish! Can't even accept what you know is a fact without trying to blame
it on some one else. You've scorned Bob for being such a fool, but here
you are, ten times worse, because you have wits enough yet you pervert
the use of them. Eleanor Maynard, I just feel as if I wanted to give you
the biggest hiding you ever heard of!"

As she knew of no way in which to inflict this punishment upon herself,
she cried instead. From a prolonged sniffle that caused her to wipe her
eyes on her dimity sleeves, she began to weep freely. And finally,
heart-broken sobs shook her slender frame. By this time her eyes and
nose were rivers of salt-water and the poor girl had no handkerchief.
Just when she felt compelled to turn up