“I am not hurt, Bettina dear, don’t be alarmed. And, Polly, it was careless of me, I am sorry to have frightened you. No, I am perfectly all right, only I am afraid Allan Drain is hurt. I am so sorry, Allan, I seem to be your evil genius. Bettina, suppose you come with us and please don’t let any one else trouble; I would so regret disturbing Peggy’s and Ralph’s wedding. We will come back in a few moments.”
So the little group disappeared, accompanied by David Hale and Mary Gilchrist, who followed after them to offer assistance.
A quarter of an hour later they all returned to the living-room save Allan Drain. Mrs. Burton, having changed her dress, showed no trace of her recent peril and begged that there be no discussion of it.
Peggy and Ralph were to remain for Christmas dinner at two o’clock and afterwards to leave for New York.
The dinner was the usual Christmas feast, but because Miss Patricia was hostess, she had ordered from the great city beautiful favors and bonbons as well, the principal favor a tiny log cabin with a small camp fire glowing outside upon a little surface of crystal to represent the frozen earth.
Before four Peggy and Ralph departed, driven to Saranac by David Murray and soon after a slight atmosphere of depression descended upon Tahawus cabin.
The older members of the house party departed to their own rooms, including Bettina Graham who felt Peggy’s marriage more keenly than the other Camp Fire girls, besides being worried over the possible nervous shock to her mother from the catastrophe of a few hours before.
The Camp Fire guardian was about to drop down on her couch to rest, and Captain Burton sat reading by the fire, when a knock at the door of her bed-room, which Mrs. Burton opened, admitted Miss Patricia Lord.
“I came in for a moment to find out how you have borne the day’s excitement,” she began in a tone of unexpected gentleness. “You look rather better than I anticipated.”
Mrs. Burton put her arm about the angular figure and drew her down on the couch beside her.