t
anything they say can really hurt our Davie?"

"No; not in the end. But--there's no use in talking."

"I am not afraid!" said Violet. "And mamma will not fret about it; I am
sure of that?"

There was nothing more said for some time, and then Violet asked:

"Where is your brother now?"

"He must be far across the country by this time. He was enjoying the
trip very much when I left him."

"And when will he be home?"

"I don't know. Not for a good while yet. Why are you asking?"

Frank raised himself up, and peered with his dim eyes into Violet's
face.

"Why are you asking?" he repeated.

But Violet did not answer him. As she looked at his poor, pale face,
the tears started in her eyes.

"Frank, dear boy, you must come home with me. You want mamma again.
She will do you more good than the doctor."

"Violet, tell me one thing! Does Davie blame Phil--about the missing
money, I mean. Tell me!"

"Davie blame your brother! Why should you say so? Davie would be
shocked at such a question from you. What reason could he have to blame
Philip?"

But Violet was very glad that he did not pursue the subject, for she was
afraid to let him know all her thoughts about Davie's trouble. She did
not give him an opportunity to return to the subject. She wished very
much for Frank's sake that he should return to Gourlay with her, and she
hastened to propose the plan to his aunt. Miss Oswald was, by no means,
disposed to hinder him, though she doubted if his father would let him
go. She was not very much accustomed to the society of young people,
and she had been at a loss what to do with the boy, who, though not very
ill, was disinclined, and, indeed, unable to amuse himself, or to enter
into any of the plans which were made for his pleasure, so she promised
to speak to his father, and to have his things ready should he be
permitted to go. Violet took care to avoid being alone with Frank while
she stayed in the house, and nothing more was said about Philip.

It was all arranged as Violet desired it might be. Mr Oswald made no
serious objections to his son's going to Gourlay. Frank himself
objected, but the prospect of going with Violet was too pleasant to make
his refusal very firm, and the thought of the loneliness of his own home
decided him to go.

"Violet," said David, when the time came to say good-bye, "you must not
tell mamma about all this vexation. It would only make her unhappy, and
do no g