“I know it, Barbara,” Ruth answered in her self-controlled fashion, which always had a calming effect on the more impetuous Bab.  “I also believe Mrs. Wilson meant to fix the guilt of the theft upon you.  Uncle William called me into his study the other day and asked me if I considered you trustworthy.  Of course I was awfully indignant and told him just what I thought of him for being so suspicious.  But I believe Mrs. Wilson had tried to poison his mind against you.  You must be on your guard now, Bab, dear.  If Harriet gives up these papers of Uncle’s the plotters may still try to use you as their scapegoat.  When Uncle finds his papers have disappeared Mrs. Wilson and Mr. Dillon will, of course, appear to know nothing of them; but they will somehow try to direct suspicion against you, trusting to Harriet’s cowardice.  Don’t you worry though, Bab, dear.  You shall not suffer for Harriet’s fault while I am here.”

“Oh, I am not worrying about myself, Ruth,” Bab answered.  “It is Harriet’s part in the affair that troubles me.  Do, please, go to Harriet and talk to her again.  Surely you can make her see the risk she is running.  Do you suppose it would do any good if I were to call on Mrs. Wilson?  I could just pretend I still thought she meant to play the joke on Mr. Hamlin.  You know she told me she intended to do so.  I could beg her to give it up without mentioning Harriet’s name or letting Mrs. Wilson guess that Harriet had confided in us.”

Ruth shook her head.  “It would not do any good for you to go to Mrs. Wilson, Bab.  And, somehow, I am afraid for you.  We do not know how much further they intend to involve you in their plot.”

“Oh, they won’t do me any harm, now,” Barbara rejoined.  “Anyhow, I am willing to take the risk, if Harriet will not give in.”

“Just wait here, Bab, until I have been to see Harriet again,” Ruth entreated.  “I will go down on my knees to her, if I can persuade her to give up this wicked deed.  Oh, why is she so determined to be so reckless and so foolish?”

Fifteen minutes afterwards Ruth came back from her second interview with Harriet, looking utterly discouraged.  “Harriet simply won’t give up,” Ruth reported to Bab.  “She is absolutely determined to go her own way, and she is angry with me for interfering.  Oh, Bab, what will happen?  Uncle is so proud!  If his daughter is known to have given Mrs. Wilson and Peter Dillon state papers, the report will be circulated that she stole them, and Uncle William will be disgraced.  Then, what will become of Harriet?  She does not intend to do wrong.  But I simply can’t make her see this thing as we see it.  So what can we do?” Unusually self-contained, Ruth broke down, now, weeping on Bab’s shoulder.  The thought of the dreadful disgrace to her uncle and her cousin was more than she could face.