ame to
the rescue. The lout ran, of course. I stayed put. I couldn't do
anything else. The lady gathered me up, carried me into the house,
laid me on a couch as I passed out entirely.

"When I came to, a doctor had been there to patch me up and pass
judgment on my chances. He had washed off a lot of blood, plastered my
cheek, clipped my hair to plaster some more places, eased some body
welts, and announced that no bones had been broken. I was in a bed,
most of my clothing had been removed, and the lady was offering me a
drink of water. I took it.

"Mrs. Gillis," here Davy gave his voice its lowest pitch, "Mrs.
Gillis, that woman was Mrs. Sarah Wentworth Lannarck, and I know you
won't condemn me or be jealous when I say that she was the kindest,
most considerate woman that ever drew the breath of life. There have
been a lot of noble women on this troubled earth, doing what they
could to ease pain, to keep down strife, and to make the world a
better place in which to live. They are all worthy of our praise, but
to me, Mrs. Lannarck is sainted, and apart from the rest. Well, the
rest of the story is in happier settings and more readable chapters,"
said Davy, as he noted that Mrs. Gillis was somewhat affected by the
recital. "I really suspect that you would know more about these
conditions than I. Personally, I think all women want to manage a
home, want to boss the inmates. If there are no children, then they
manage the men-folk, or the household pets. And I was Mrs. Lannarck's
pet. She used me as a substitute for the children that never came into
her life. I was little; I was injured; I was a fit object of her
suppressed affections.

"She telephoned Mrs. Philpott, matron at the orphanage, and when she
called to see me, Mrs. Lannarck arranged to care for me until I was
well. She explained the whole affair to Mr. Lannarck, when he came
home to luncheon and that big, grave, silent man accepted her
statements without comment. Sick as I was, I heard all this and I too,
made some resolutions. I was not going to miss this chance of having a
home, and a mother. The very next morning I offered to get up and help
her do the dishes. She laughed like a girl, and vetoed my offer. In a
day or two I limbered up enough to get into my clothes and I puttered
around, offering to do things. My help was declined, but I could see
that it had the right effect.

"I didn't go to school for a few days. My face and head were still in
bandages