me there is--anywhere!" she sobbed. "But it's got
to go--it's got to go!"

CHAPTER XVII

A PINK-RIBBON TRAIL

Mrs. Stetson wore an air of unmistakable relief as she stepped into
William's sitting-room. Even her knock at the half-open door had sounded
almost triumphant.

"William, it does seem as if Fate itself had intervened to help us
out," she began delightedly. "Billy, of her own accord, came to me this
morning, and said that she wanted to go away with me for a little trip.
So you see that will make it easier for us."

"Good! That is fortunate, indeed," cried William; but his voice did not
carry quite the joy that his words expressed. "I have been disturbed
ever since your remarks the other day," he continued wearily; "and of
course her extraordinary escapade the next evening did not help matters
any. It is better, I know, that she shouldn't be here--for a time.
Though I shall miss her terribly. But, tell me, what is it--what does
she want to do?"

"She says she guesses she is homesick for Hampden Falls; that she'd
like to go back there for a few weeks this summer if I'll go with her.
The--the dear child seems suddenly to have taken a great fancy to me,"
explained Aunt Hannah, unsteadily. "I never saw her so affectionate."

"She is a dear girl--a very dear girl; and she has a warm heart."
William cleared his throat sonorously, but even that did not clear
his voice. "It was her heart that led her wrong the other night," he
declared. "Hers was a brave and fearless act--but a very unwise one.
Much as I deplore Bertram's intimacy with Seaver, I should hesitate to
take the course marked out by Billy. Bertram is not a child. But tell me
more of this trip of yours. How did Billy happen to suggest it?"

"I don't know. I noticed yesterday that she seemed strangely
silent--unhappy, in fact. She sat alone in her room the greater part of
the day, and I could not get her out of it. But this morning she came to
my door as bright as the sun itself and made me the proposition I told
you of. She says her aunt's house is closed, awaiting its sale; but that
she would like to open it for awhile this summer, if I'd like to go.
Naturally, you can understand that I'd very quickly fall in with a plan
like that--one which promised so easily to settle our difficulties."

"Yes, of course, of course," muttered William. "It is very fine, very
fine indeed," he concluded. And again his voice failed quite to match
his words in enth