CHAPTER XIII

Disillusion

For an hour before dinner Peggy remained alone in her tent, Bettina having seen that she was comfortable, had then gone away.

She was annoyed at finding herself so stiff and sore and for some reason so oddly depressed. For Peggy was not as accustomed to depression as most girls, being too fond of outdoor life and not given to introspection. But it was natural enough that the nervous shock, as well as the physical strain of her recent experience, should tell on her more as the hours passed than at the beginning.

Ralph and Terry Benton had gone home at once to their hotel on the return of the Camp Fire party to camp.

Through dinner Peggy sat quietly between her mother and Dan, not talking very much.

From the other end of the table Howard Brent watched her furtively whenever he had the opportunity. He was not happy over what he was intending to do, although from his point of view it was the only fair thing. Peggy ought not to be deceived by a pretense of friendship into giving her own sincere affection in return.

Several times the young man had thought of confiding in Bettina Graham and asking her to undertake the task of enlightening Peggy in his stead. Bettina, Howard realized, did not like Ralph Marshall any better than he