"If they should ever find out," gasped the girl, suddenly giving way to the dread that had been lying dormant all these months.
"They will never know the truth unless you choose to enlighten them," said Sara, putting her arm about the girl's shoulders and drawing her close.
"You never cease to be wonderful, Sara,—so very wonderful," cried the girl, with a look of worship in her eyes.
Sara regarded her in silence for a moment, reflecting. Then, with a swift rush of tears to her eyes, she cried fiercely:
"You must never, never tell me all that happened, Hetty! You must not speak it with your own lips."
Hetty's eyes grew dark with pain and wonder.
"That is the thing I can't understand in you, Sara," she said slowly.
"We must not speak of it!"
Hetty's bosom heaved. "Speak of it!" she cried, absolute agony in her voice. "Have I not kept it locked in my heart since that awful day—"
"Hush!"