"Mr.Hopkins saw I was wholly irresponsible and reckless，and he decided to use me to spy upon the people here at Elmhurst and report to him what they said and did.I agreed to this readily，prompted by a spirit of mischief，for I cared nothing for Hopkins and had nothing against Mr.Forbes.Also Hopkins paid me money，which I had suf？cient knowledge to realize was necessary to me.
"Oh，how happy and gay I was in those first few days！
There was not a thought of the past，not an ambition or desire of any sort to bother me.Just to live seemed pleasure enough.I enjoyed eating and sleeping；I loved to talk and laugh；I was glad to have work to occupy me—and that was all！Then things began to happen that puzzled me.The man Hopkins declared he could not trust me because I had once been a thief，and Iwondered if he could speak truly.I resented the thought that I may once have been a thief，although I wouldn't mind stealing，even now，if I wanted anything and could take it.""Oh，Eliza！"gasped Louise.
"It sounds wicked，doesn't it？But it is true.Nothing seems to in？uence me so strongly as my own whims.I know what is good and what is bad.I must have been taught these things once.But I am as likely to do evil as good，and this recklessness has begun，in the last few days，to worry me.
"Then I met a young man here—he says his name is TomGates—who called me his dear Lucy，and said I used to love him.I laughed at him at ？rst，for it seemed very absurd and I do not want him to love me.But then he proved to me there was some truth in his statement.He said his Lucy had a scar on her left arm，and that made me afraid，because I had discovered a scar on my own arm.I don't know how it got there.I don't know anything about this old Lucy.And I'm afraid to ？nd out.I'm afraid of Lucy.""Why，dear？""I cannot tell.I only know I have a horror of her，a sudden shrinking whenever her name is mentioned.Who was she，do you suppose？""Shall I tell you？"asked Louise.
"No—no！Don't，I beg of you！"cried Eliza，starting up."I—I can't bear it！I don't want to know her."The protest was passionate and sincere，and Louise mar—velled at the workings of this evidently unbalanced intellect."What would you like to do，dear？"she inquired.
"I'd like to remain Eliza Parsons—always.I'd like to get away from her—far away from anyone who ever heard of that dreadful Lucy who frightens me so.Will you help me to get away，to escape to some place where no one will ever be able to trace me？""Do you think you would be happy then？""I am sure of it.The only thing that makes me unhappy now is the horror that this past life will be thrust upon me.I must have had a past，of course，or I shouldn't be a grown woman now.But I'm afraid of it；I don't want to know anything about it！Will you help me to escape？"She looked eagerly at Louise as she asked this pitiful question，and the other girl replied，softly："I will be your friend，Eliza.I'll think all this over，and we will see what can be done.Be patient a little while and as soon as I ？nd a way to free you from all this trouble I'll send for you，and we'll talk it over together.""Will you keep my secret？"demanded Eliza，uneasily.
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 doyou 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.