brought up from the other boys of the village, he was not at
all accustomed to society, especially that of ladies, and he felt
extremely diffident at the prospect of meeting these strangers, if
indeed Helen's report were true.

As he approached the house of the mine boss he saw that it was more
brilliantly lighted than usual, and just as he reached the door a
shadow, apparently that of a young girl, moved across one of the white
window-shades.

Instead of ringing the bell the boy walked rapidly on, with a quickly
beating heart, for some distance past the house.

"Supposing it should be a girl," he thought to himself, "I should never
dare say anything to her, and she'd find it out in a minute; then she'd
make fun of me. I wish I knew whether I was going to see them, or see
Mr. Jones alone. I hope he won't make me go in and be introduced."

Undoubtedly Derrick was bashful, and while he had apparently been brave
in the burning breaker, and in various trying situations, was only a
coward after all.

Again he approached the house, and again he walked hurriedly past it. As
he turned and walked towards it for the third time somebody came rapidly
from the opposite direction, and stopped at the very door he was afraid
to enter. They reached it at the same moment, and the somebody
recognizing him, said heartily, "Ah, Derrick, is that you? I'm glad I
got back in time. I was unexpectedly detained by business, and feared
you might get here before me. Walk in."

There was no help for it now. Wishing with all his heart that he were
safely at home, or down in the mine, or anywhere but where he was, and
trembling with nervousness, Derrick found himself a moment later inside
the house, and--alone with Mr. Jones in the library.

"Sit down, Derrick," said the latter, as he stood in front of the
fireplace. "I have sent for you to ask you to help me out of a sort of a
scrape."

So he was not to be asked to meet strange ladies or girls after all, and
his fears were groundless. What a goose he had been! Why should he be
afraid of a girl anyhow? she wouldn't bite him. These and other similar
thoughts flashed through Derrick's mind as he tried to listen to Mr.
Jones, and to overcome a feeling of disappointment that in spite of his
efforts presently filled his mind.

"It is this," continued the mine boss. "For some time past my only
sister, Mrs. Halford, who lives in Philadelphia, has been threatening to
bring her daughter Nellie on a