"Look here," said Patience. "I tell you what I personally know. I know this; that on the day when we all landed at Totland Bay, you were seen by me talking very earnestly with Harriet. I also saw you run away from the rest of the party and meet Mr Durrant, who was coming to join us in the little bay where we were all to bathe. I could not hear what you said to him; but you said something, and he went back to the yacht instead of joining us. You also went back yourself: you did not appear again that day, and when we saw you afterwards you seemed to us to be a most miserable little girl. Now, what occurred between you and Mr Durrant will have to be explained to-morrow morning when the great decision is come to; for we girls don't mean Robina to have no innings in this matter. You need not tell us anything about it now, all we want you to do is to proclaim the simple truth to-morrow morning. Of course there are other things, for doubtless you know the whole matter from beginning to end; but if you tell what really occurred between you and Mr Durrant that will probably save the situation and secure the post of Ralph's school-mother for Robina." "But--Harriet--what will she think of me?" said Jane. "What we five think of you seems more to the point," said Patience. "Now look here, Janie; you are not going to lose your pluck. You think it very dreadful to betray Harriet, but let me tell you that it is fifty thousand times more dreadful to allow a wicked girl like Harriet to have the control and the guidance of a sweet, dear little boy like Ralph. We ask you for Ralph's sake, therefore, to be brave in this matter, to confess your own sin, and to throw yourself--first on the mercy of God, who is always willing to forgive us when we repent, and next on the mercy of Mr Durrant and your school-fellows. You have done terribly wrong, of course we know that, but you are not the worst culprit. Harriet won't confess; we have tried her and she is obdurate; you have therefore got to save the situation. And now, please, you will come and sleep in my room to-night, for I don't want you to see Harriet again between now and eleven o'clock to-morrow morning." "Oh dear! oh dear!" said Jane. "Oh, I am too miserable and too frightened!" "I have one last thing to say," said Patience. "Would you like your own Bobbie to be under the care of Harriet Lane with no chance of getting away from her?" "No, no! a thousand times no!" cried Jane, her face turning white, and her words trembling on her lips, so great was her anxiety.