“Then what can be the matter with you, dear?” “Oh, girls—I’m—I’m just the meanest creature in the—whole world—and I just—just hate and despise myself! So there!” Mabel and Bessie looked at each other in astonishment. “You must be silly, Fanny! You are nothing of the sort!” cried Mabel. “Yes, I am!” sharply declared Fanny, using a handkerchief to dry her tears. “I am just as mean and hateful as I can be, and I wish I were dead! It would have been a good thing if I’d burned!” Mabel and Bessie looked horrified. “It’s dreadful!” they exclaimed. “I don’t care, it’s true!” cried Fanny. “Just think of the mean, hateful things I said to Frank Merriwell, and then think what he did for me! And I did not mean those things at all! Oh, I’m wicked, and I know it!” “Why, Fanny! Mr. Merriwell did not mind what you said,” assured Mabel, hoping to pacify her in that manner. “He heard them, and he must think me the meanest, hatefulest creature alive. I shall never dare to look him in the face again—never!” After a long time her agitation subsided, and then, of a sudden, she exclaimed: “Girls, do you know what I am going to do?” “No; of course not.” “I am going to ask Frank Merriwell’s pardon on my knees! I will do it now!” Both Mabel and Bessie were so astonished that they could hardly speak. The idea of Fanny Darling getting on her knees to any one was utterly preposterous. But there seemed a most astonishing change in her, and now she started to find Frank. But Frank was gone. Charlie Creighton came in and told the girls that Frank and Bart had departed to their hotel. “Oh, it’s too bad!” cried Fanny. “I should have gone to him at once, but truly I was so ashamed that I could not face him. Tell me, Charlie, was he burned much?” “Well, the doctor could not tell just how severe the burns on his hands might prove to be.” “Well, the very next time I see him I’ll do my best to let him know I appreciate his heroism,” said Fanny. In the meantime Frank and Bart had taken a car and were on their way to the Continental. Bart showed considerable agitation concerning Merry’s hands. “I hope you will not be knocked out so you’ll be unable to go in for athletics the same as usual this fall, Merry,” said Hodge. “What would the Yale eleven do without you?” “They would get some other man equally as good,” smiled Frank. “They couldn’t!” cried Hodge, loyally. “That would be an impossibility!” “It can’t be you really mean that, old man?” “Of course I do.” “Then you are foolish. Why, Hodge, there are hundreds of men just as good as yours truly. I know I am a good player, but I also know there are others.” It was nearly midnight when they left the car and started to walk the short distance to the hotel. Frank led the way by a short cut through a narrow street, which was rather dark and deserted. “There are not many fellows who would have done what you did to-night for a girl who had treated them as Miss Darling treated you,” said Bart.