Kitty." "Kitty What, Kitty! Oh--h--h!" There was a rush across the room, then a pause.

"I--I don't think you had better come in," gasped Betty.
"You'll never want to see me again if you do." "Don't be silly.

Why, Betty, whatever has happened ?" cried Kitty, as she opened the door and stepped into an almost perfectly dark room.
"Are you ill ?" "No," miserably, "I wish I was, then p'r'aps you'd be sorry; and if I was to die you might forgive me, but you can't unless I do die." "O Betty, what _have_ you done ?" cried Kitty, growing quite alarmed.
"Is she--is she dead ?" asked Betty in an awful whisper.
"Who?
Poor Aunt Pike?
No; Dr.Yearsley told me she is just ever so slightly better." "Oh!" gasped Betty, a world of relief in her sigh, "I _am_ so glad.
Then I ain't a--a murderess--at least not yet.

I've been afraid to ask, and nobody came to tell me, and I--O Kitty, it was I made her tumble down like that in a fit or something, and I was _so_ frightened.
I will never tell any one anything any more." "You will tell me what it was that you told Aunt Pike that upset her so ?" "I don't think I can," said Betty.

"You will hate me so, and so will father--that is why I wanted to hide for ever from all of you; but," with sudden indignation, "that silly old 'Rover' brought me back.