now what they think and mother did manage to say a good deal
before we came home; still, there is a great deal more retribution
awaiting me. In the first place, I shall have to go home to the
Wharton house. I realize it has been dreadful, my being sick here, but
I am everlastingly grateful to you and your mother. Mr. Wharton won't
say anything much; he really is very kind to me; but naturally I know
what he thinks. And then when Frank Wharton is there it will be so
much worse. You see, Frank and I quarreled once, because I thought he
was rude to mother. And of course he considers my disobedience worse
than his rudeness. And as he is perfectly right, I can't imagine how I
shall answer him back the next time we argue."

As Polly talked she had risen into a sitting posture in bed and was now
leaning her chin on her hand in a characteristic attitude and quite
unconscious of the amusing side to her argument until Betty laughed.

Polly had on a scarlet flannel dressing sacque and her hair was tied
with scarlet ribbons. And indeed her cheeks were almost equally vivid
in color.

"But there isn't anything funny about my punishment, Betty dear. And
the worst of it is that I know I deserve all of it and more and shan't
ever have the right to complain. Mother declares that she does not
expect to allow me to leave Woodford again until I am twenty-one, since
she has no more faith in me. And then, and then--" Polly's entire face
now changed expression--"has any one told you that my behavior is to be
openly discussed at the next meeting of our Camp Fire Club? Perhaps I
won't be allowed to be a member any longer."

Instantly Betty jumped up from her kneeling position by the bed and
commenced walking up and down the length of the room, saying nothing at
first, but with her lips set in obstinate lines.

"But it isn't the custom of Camp Fire clubs to act as both judge and
jury, is it, Polly?" she inquired. "At least, I have never heard of
any other club's undertaking such a task. We are allowed, I know, to
be fairly free in what we do in our individual clubs, but somehow this
action seems unkind and dangerous. For if once we begin criticising
one another's faults or mistakes, after a while there won't be any
club. Right now Edith Norton is behaving very foolishly, I think, but
I wouldn't dream of even discussing her with you or any one of the
girls. I----" Betty paused to get her breath, her indignation and
oppositio