red so diabolical a conspiracy; and the inhumanity of
the woman who had helped in the intrigue against her own sister,--nay even
instigated it. His feelings were too deep for utterance. He was shaken to
the depths. His new comprehension of Kate's character was confirmed at the
worst. Marcia could only guess his deep feelings from his shaken
countenance and the earnest way in which he folded his hands over hers and
said in low tones filled with emotion: "We should be deeply thankful to
God for saving you, and I must be very careful of you after this. That
villain shall be searched out and punished if it takes a lifetime, and
Miranda,--what shall we do for Miranda? Perhaps we can induce her
grandmother to let us have her sometime to help take care of us. We seem
to be unable to get on without her. We'll see what we can do sometime in
return for the great service she has rendered."

But the old clock striking in the hall suddenly reminded David that he
should go at once to the office, so he hurried away and Marcia set about
her work with energy, a happy song of praise in her heart.

There was much to be done. David had said he would scarcely have time to
go over to his aunts that night, so she had decided to invite them to tea.
She would far rather have had David to herself this first evening, but it
would please them to come, especially Aunt Clarinda. There was not much
time to prepare supper to be sure, but she would stir up a gingerbread,
make some puffy cream biscuits, and there was lovely white honey and fresh
eggs and peach preserves.

So she ran to Deacon Appleby's to get some cream for her biscuits and to
ask Tommy Appleby to harness David's horse and drive over for Aunt
Clarinda. Then she hurried down to the aunts to give her invitation.

Aunt Clarinda sat down in her calico-covered rocking chair, wiped her dear
old eyes and her glasses, and said, over and over again: "Dear child!
Bless her! Bless her!"

It was a happy gathering that evening. David was as pleased as they could
have desired, and looked about upon the group in the dining-room with
genuine boyish pleasure. It did his heart good to see Aunt Clarinda there.
It had never occurred to him before that she could come. He turned to
Marcia with a light in his eyes that fully repaid her for the little
trouble she had had in carrying out her plan. He began to feel that home
meant something even though he had lost the home of his long dreams and
ideals.

H