tty's being brought home to me and my not
knowing how seriously she was injured for such a time; it seemed an
eternity."

Betty had thrown a shawl over her mother's shoulders, as she was clad
only in her night-dress, and she and Polly slipped into their dressing
gowns.

"Wasn't it odd, though, mother, your coming in here both times? I
wonder if you had me on your mind and wanted to see how I was. But you
did not seem to. You kept groping your way toward that old closet as
though you wished to rummage about in it. But do come and let me take
you back to bed now, and I will stay with you so you will behave
yourself and give Polly a chance to rest."

For quite five minutes after the two had gone, Polly lay awake. There
were really so many things to consider, because, of course, when one
has too active an imagination it is apt to lead one into trouble.
First, she must apologize to Anthony Graham for her totally unfounded
suspicion of him. And then, thank Heaven, she had not breathed the
suggestion aloud! Yet just for a moment she had wondered if Edith
Norton could have--but it was not true and of course never could have
been.

Then a third idea. What could be hidden away in that old closet of so
great value or interest that Mrs. Ashton turned toward it in her
sleeping hours, when her subconscious mind must be directing her
footsteps? No wonder that Betty was puzzled and annoyed over the
secrets of the old room. Naturally as a visitor in the Ashton home it
would be exceedingly bad manners, if nothing worse, for her to try to
find out anything that her hostess wished to keep concealed. Yet just
as Polly lost her train of thought she remembered wishing that Betty
might make the discovery for herself, since most certainly then she
would confide in her.

The next day being Friday, Polly went to her own home to spend the
week-end. And quite by accident she and Mollie came in together for a
few moments on Sunday afternoon and went directly to Betty's room
without letting her know of their approach.

As they knocked and had no answer, Polly, feeling entirely at home,
pushed the door open.

"Betty, child, don't you want to see us?" she demanded. "I know I
promised to give you a rest until Monday, but Mollie and I could not
bear to spend a whole Sunday afternoon without you."

And at this, Betty Ashton appeared from the darkness of the big closet
at the farthest end of her bedroom. She wore a lavender cashme