persuade the hospitable creature
that my immediate departure was practically a matter of life or death.
Then I threaded my way out of the drawing-room without squashing any of
the little tropical, flowerlike things that hopped about and--according
to the maid--were worth more than their weight in gold.

I knew I should have loved Mrs. Hale, for her own sake and Sally's and
the happy family's in the drawing-room, but I felt I must vanish before
she came home, or I should be saddled upon her, and she would feel
bound to keep me indefinitely, till Sally returned or I was sent for
like a missing parcel by my own people.

So instead of writing my news to Mr. Brett, I went back with it to him,
like a bad penny. He must have been surprised when he heard that a lady
was waiting in the drawing-room of his hotel, and hurried in to see me
sitting there. I should have felt ready to die if he had looked bored,
but he didn't a bit.

I told him all my adventures, and about the dogs and cats and birds,
and then I asked what on earth I should do now. "I suppose I shall have
to go back to New York," I said gloomily, "and cable to my brother. I
could stop at some _pension_ and wait till I heard--a quiet _pension_,
Mrs. Stuyvesant-Knox wouldn't be likely to know about."

"You alone in a New York boarding house!" exclaimed Mr. Brett. "Never."

"Then could you find me a Chicago one?"

"There'd be nothing to choose between. No, Lady Betty, but I can
suggest something better. Only--I don't know how you'll take it.
Wouldn't you rather be near Miss Woodburn than anything else, until
your future plans are settled?"

"Of course," said I, "but that's impossible now."

"I'm not so sure. I think--in fact I know, where she is. You say Mrs.
Hale's maid told you she'd gone to Ohio, to take care of a sick friend.
I can tell you where that friend lives, and her name, because I have
relatives in the neighbourhood. I don't often go there, but I've heard
from them of Miss Woodburn's visits. My cousins have a farm; and I was
wondering whether you could content yourself boarding with them for
awhile, so near Miss Woodburn you could see her every day?"

"Oh, I should love it," I cried. "But would they have me?"

"They would be happy to have you, I know. The only question is, would
_you_ be happy? They're simple folk, with simple ways, such as you
would expect of my people, Lady Betty; but they've hearts of gold."

"Like yours," I thought; but I did