Dollie shook her head and a dazed look crept into her eyes.
“To-morrow, Marion. I am so tired to-night! To-morrow my head will be clearer and perhaps I can remember.”
Marion took her in her arms and began smoothing her hair.
“Just one thing, little sister, and then you shall go to sleep. Did you take grandma’s topazes from the old chest, Dollie? I looked for them one night, but I could not find them.”
“I took them, yes, dear,” said Dollie sleepily. “He told me to do it, and I dared not disobey. There was some reason, I don’t know what—I always obeyed him.”
“I understand the reason, darling; he had hypnotized you, but now go to bed, dear, we will finish our talking to-morrow.”
Marion helped to undress her, soothing her gently as she did so.
“We will get along famously, I am sure we will,” she said, cheerily; “for all we need is perseverance and courage.”
“And you have courage enough for both,” said Dollie, brightening. “You are the bravest girl in the world, and I am proud of you, Marion!”
“I mean that you shall be proud of me some day,” said the fair girl, slowly; “for if patience, perseverance and courage count for anything, I shall be famous, even if I am only a farmer’s daughter!”