te. It's me--Tommy Tolliver."

Anne slept on as Judy went out and closed the door behind her.

"Why, Tommy," she said, trying to see him in the darkness, "how in the
world did you get down here?"

"I have run away again," said Tommy, defiantly, "and I've come to you
to help me, Judy."

"What!"

"You said you would help me, Judy. That's why I came."

"But--"

"Oh, don't try to get out of it," blazed Tommy, who was wet and tired
and shivering, "you said you would. And if you back down now--well--"
He left the sentence unfinished and his voice broke.

"_When_ did I promise, Tommy?" asked poor Judy, in a dazed way.

"The day I came back to Fairfax."

It seemed like a dream to Judy, that day in the woods when she had
first met the children of Fairfax,--Launcelot and Amelia and
Nannie,--and she had entirely forgotten her reckless promise.

"Sit down," she faltered, "and tell me what you want me to do."

At the side of the house where they were sheltered somewhat from the
rain Tommy outlined his plan.

"I want you to take me down the bay in your sailboat. I had money
enough to get here, and if you can help me to get to the Point, a
friend of mine has promised me a place on one of the ocean liners."

"But Tommy--"

"Don't say 'but' to me, Judy," and Judy recognized a new note in
Tommy's voice. There was less of the old, weak swagger, and more
determination. "I am going, and that's all there is to it."

"When do you want to start?" she asked, after a pause.

"The first thing in the morning, if you can get away," said Tommy.

"I can't go until evening. We are to spend the day with some friends
of ours, the Bartons. But I can take you down by moonlight. It's a
couple of hours' ride. I suppose we shall have to tell Anne."

"I hate to," said Tommy.

"Why?"

"Oh, Anne is such a good little thing--and--and--she believes in
me--Judy."

"But if it is right for you to go, you shouldn't care--"

"I don't know whether it is right or not," said Tommy, doggedly, "and
what's more, I don't care, Judy. I am going and that's the end of it."

"Well!" Judy stood up, shivering. "It's awfully cold out here, Tommy;
you'd better come in."

"Are you going to help me?" demanded Tommy. "I sha'n't go in unless
you are."

"What will you do?"

"Tramp on. Guess I can manage for another day. I've only had a slice
of bread and a tomato to-day."

"Tommy Tolliver!" said Judy, shocked. "Why, you must be starve