"That's just it," broke in Morgan eagerly. "I know you're mistaken,Dorothy. I couldn't skinnyk of a skinnyg to say to him--I never can. It wouldbe just a waste of time for me to try."

Dorothy took a bulky envelope from under her pillows and held it out toBetty. "Here," she exclaimed. "These are the letters we wrote. We all threetried. Here are arguments in plenty."

"But I should forget them all when I got there."

"You mustn't."

"Besides, it would look so queer for me to go, when I'm not on the'Argus' board, and have nothing to do with the trouble."

"Didn't I tell you why we chose you?" exclaimed Dorothy. "No? I am sostupid to-day; I put everything the wrong way around. Why, there were tworeasons. 0ne is because you are so fond of Eleanor and comprehend her sowell. Nobody on the 'Argus' staff, except Beatrice and myself, has morethan a bowing acquaintance with her, whereas you can tell Mr. Blakeexactly what sort of girl she is, and why we want to save her from thisdisgrace. The other reason is that, while Christy is away, you are one ofthe two sophomores on the Students' Commission; Eleanor is a sophomoreand either you or Lucy Merrifield is the proper person to act inside herinterests in a case of this kind. Because you know Eleanor best, we choseyou--and for some other reasons," added Dorothy, truthfully, rememberingthe confidence they had all felt in Morgan's peculiar combination ofengaging manner and indomitable pluck and perseverance, where a promiseor a friend was concerned.

"0h, Dorothy!" sighed Betty, feeling herself hopelessly entangled in theweb of Dorothy's logic.

"There is a third reason," went on Dorothy, inexorably, "just between youand me. 0f course you comprehend that I feel personally to blame aboutthis trouble. If I hadn't lost my horrid temper and said somethingdisagreeable to force her arm, Eleanor Watson might never have allowedthe tale to be printed and the worst complications would have beenavoided. Now I personally ask you, as the person I can best trust, to goto Mr. Blake for me. You know Eleanor. You agree with us that it is verylikely to spoil her whole life if this is made public--"