ho had sent for the resident trained nurse, was examining
Polly's arm and now said:

"It is all very distressing, but I am glad no more serious for Polly.
The arm is badly bruised and will be very painful for some time, but I
can't discover a scratch. Miss Allen, will you please look after this
little girl," she asked, as the sweet-faced trained nurse entered the
room, her white uniform snowy and immaculate, her face a benediction in
its sweet, calm repose.

"Go with Miss Allen, dear, and have your arm dressed." Polly paused only
long enough to stoop down and kiss Tzaritza's head, the caress being
acknowledged by a pathetic whine, then followed the nurse from the room.

Peggy was terribly distressed.

"Do you think I would better send her back to Severndale, Mrs. Vincent?"
she asked.

"Has she ever attacked anyone before, Peggy?"

"Never in all her life."

"I hardly think she will again. She may remain. Come here, Tzaritza."

Tzaritza did not stir.

"Up, Tzaritza," commanded Peggy, and the affectionate creature's feet
were upon her shoulders as she begged forgiveness with almost human
eloquence.

"Oh, my bonny one, how could you?" asked Peggy as she caressed the silky
head. Tzaritza's whimpers reduced some of the girls to tears. "Now go to
Mrs. Vincent," ordered Peggy, and the hound obediently crossed the room
to lay her head in that lady's lap.

"Poor Tzaritza, you did what you believed to be your duty, didn't you?
None of us can do more. I wish some of my other problems were as easy to
solve as the motives of your act. Go on with your fudge party, girls. It
will prove a diversion. I must look to other matters now," and Mrs.
Vincent sighed at the prospect of the coming interview with Miss
Sturgis. It was not her first experience by any means.

CHAPTER XI

BEHIND SCENES

The girls were hardly in a mood to return to their fudge-making, so
Stella produced a box of Whitman's chocolates and the group settled down
to eat them and discuss the events of the past exciting half hour. Polly
squatted upon the rug and with her uninjured arm hauled about half of
Tzaritza upon her lap. Tzaritza was positively foolish in her ecstatic
joy at being restored to favor.

"Poor Tzaritza, you got into trouble because I lost my temper, didn't
you? It was a heap more my fault than yours after all."

"Oh, there's nothing wrong with Tzaritza. It's the Sturgeon. Hateful old
thing! I just hope Mrs. Vincent gives her ba