"Only this: Fly has confessed that she knows what has become of him, but she's a dear little brick and won't tell. She says she's a Maybright, and they don't tell lies. Three cheers for the Maybrights, if they are all like Fly, say I! Well, the little love won't tell, and Mrs. Cameron is fit to dance, and what does she do but gets leave from Dr. Strong to see your father, and she's going to drag Fly before him at three o'clock to-day, and make a fine story of what happened. She holds it over Fly that your father will be made very ill again. Very likely he will, if _we_ don't prevent it." "It's horrible!" said Polly; "but _how_ can we prevent it, Flower?" "Oh, easily enough. _You_ must guard your father's room. Let no one in under any pretense whatever until I have found David." "What do you mean by finding David? What can David have to say to it?" "Oh! has he not? Poor Fly! David has got her into his toils. David is at the bottom of all this, I am convinced. I guessed it the moment I saw him go up so boldly to Mrs. Cameron and pretend to be sorry about the dog. _He_ sorry about Scorpion! He hates him more than any of us." "But then--I don't understand; if that is so, David told a deliberate lie, Flower." Flower colored. "We have not been brought up like the Maybrights," she said. "Oh, yes, _we_ could tell a lie; we were not brought up to be particular about good things, or to avoid bad things. We were brought up--well, just anyhow." Polly stole up to Flower and kissed her. "I am glad you have come to learn of my father," she said. "Now do tell me what we are to do for poor, poor Fly. Do you think David is guilty, and that he has got Fly to promise not to tell?" "Yes, that is what I think. David must be found, and got to confess, and so release Fly of her promise before three o'clock. David is a dreadful boy to find when he takes it into his head to hide on purpose; but I must look for him, and in the meantime will you guard your father, Polly?" "As a dragon," said Polly. "You may trust me about that at least. I will go to his room at once to make all things safe, for there is really no trusting Aunt Maria when she has a scheme of vengeance with regard to _that dog_ in her head. Good-by, Flower; I'm off to father." Polly turned away, and Flower ran quickly downstairs. She knew she had not a moment to lose, for David, as she expressed it, was a very difficult boy to find when he took it into his head to hide himself.