t, the pastures ran up to meet the forest on another
hill.

Looking past this hill, she could see the blue waters of a lake,
sparkling in the evening sun.

From the lake the ground rose once more. Up and up it went, with
pastures and forests, until it came to the rocky crowns of three
mountains.

The mountains were a deep, misty blue. Above them rose the white
August clouds, rolling on and on, into the highest heaven.

Clematis drew a long breath.

"It is lovely," she whispered.

Not far from where they stopped was a white house, with the blinds
closed. Vines ran about the front, and all seemed lonely.

"Who lives there?" she asked, finding her tongue at last.

"No one lives there now. A nice old man used to live there, but he
had a good deal of sadness. He shut up the house, and went to live
in a little place over near Bean Hill."

He pointed over to another hill which rose in the east.

Clematis would have liked to know more about the man who could leave
such a lovely place, but the horse started on again.

Soon they turned into another road, and before long were turning
back toward the village.

All the way along, Clematis could see the blue mountains in the
distance. She could not take her eyes from them.

"Well, there is your house," said the man, at last, pointing to a
neat, white house.

Clematis looked all about. Yes, there were gardens, and flowers, and
fields, and trees.

There was a cow down by a little brook.

Everything she had hoped to find was there. There was a tall maple
beside the house.

"Well, this is Clematis, I guess," said a lady, coming down the
path.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Ladd. I see she came right side up."

She took the bag Mr. Ladd handed down, and reached for the box that
Clematis still hugged in her lap.

Clematis started to explain, but Mrs. Alder did not wait. She was
nervous and quick.

She pulled the box out of her hands.

"Why Clematis, what is in this box?" Mrs. Alder looked at it in
surprise.

Clematis did not answer. She gasped, and turned red as a rooster's
comb.

"It's her money, Mrs. Alder," said Mr. Ladd, laughing. "She has it
tied up for safe keeping. The conductor told me so."

Mrs. Alder lifted one corner of the box to peep in.

There was a scratching sound, and then out popped a little white,
furry head, with sharp ears, and one black eye.

It was Deborah.

CHAPTER XIV

THE COUNTRY

When Mr. Ladd saw the little white h