Louise glanced at the door that communicated with Beth’s room.  It stood open, but Eliza had not noticed that, as it was behind her.  Just now a shadow cast from the other room wavered an instant over the rug, and Louise’s quick eyes caught it.

“I promise to keep your secret, dear,” she said earnestly.

The two girls rose and stood facing each other.  Louise kissed the beautiful Eliza and whispered: 

“Here is one thing for you to remember—­that we are always to be true friends, from this time forward.  If anyone annoys you, come to me, and I will protect you.”

“Thank you, Miss Louise,” said Eliza, and then she went away to her own room in a quieter and more thoughtful mood than usual.

When she had gone Louise ran to the door communicating with Beth’s room, and to her satisfaction found both her cousins, with Kenneth, Uncle John and Mr. Burke, seated in a group where they must have overheard all that had been said.

“Well!” she cried, eagerly, “did you hear?  And what do you think of it all?”

“It’s Lucy Rogers, sure enough,” said Kenneth.

Louise looked at Mr. Burke.

“It is the most singular case that has ever come under my observation,” stated that gentleman.  “The girl is perfectly sane, but she has suffered a strange lapse of memory.  I have two alternatives to advise.  One is to telegraph at once for a specialist.  The other is to permit the girl to go away, as she suggests.  She will be happier to do so, I am sure.”

“Oh, no!” cried the girls.

“She owes a duty to her parents and friends, as well as to herself,” said Kenneth, “and I see no reason why she should be unhappy in the future as Lucy Rogers.”

Mr. Burke merely shrugged his shoulders.

“Please wire for the specialist at once,” said Uncle John.

CHAPTER XIX

PATSY INDULGES IN EAVESDROPPING

Miss Patricia Doyle awakened at daybreak next morning with a throbbing toothache.  She wasn’t accustomed to such pains and found it hard to bear.  She tried the application of a hot-water bag, and the tooth ached harder; she tried a cold compress, and it jumped with renewed activity.  So she dressed herself and walked the floor, with the persistent ache as an intimate companion.

She tried to find a cavity in the tooth, but it seemed perfectly sound.  Evidently she had caught cold and the wicked molar was signaling the fact.

To be patient under the torture of a toothache was a virtue Patsy did not possess.  Louise and Beth, to whom she appealed, were sorry for her, but could not relieve the pain.  After breakfast Uncle John ordered her to drive to town and see a dentist.

“Have it pulled, or filled, or something,” he said.  “The dentist will know what to do.”

So James drove Patsy to town, where they arrived about nine o’clock this Monday morning.  The only dentist at Elmwood was Dr. Squiers, so the girl ran up the flight of stairs to his office, which was located over the hardware store.