ver it is," she reassured, for Azalea turned big,
frightened eyes on Farnsworth.

"You bet it's all right!" Philip cried, as he stepped eagerly forward.

With a tired little sigh, Azalea put her hand in his. "How did you find
me?" she began, but Van Reypen said, "Never mind that, now. You just
come back home with us,--and first thank Miss Grayson prettily for her
kindness to you."

Miss Grayson, a pretty, round-faced girl, was greatly interested in the
dramatic situation, and though she disclaimed any occasion for thanks,
yet she very much wanted to know what it was all about.

"I already like Miss Adams too well to let her go entirely out of my
life," she said, with spirit. "I claim my right to know a little about
it."

"It _is_ your right," said Farnsworth, "and first of all this runaway of
ours is not Miss Adams, but Miss Thorpe."

"No," said Azalea, with an air of decision, "I'm _not_ Miss Thorpe,--and
I _am_ Alice Adams."

"Flighty," said Farnsworth, "and no wonder. She's been under a good deal
of nervous strain lately."

"No; I'm not flighty," persisted Azalea, who was entirely composed now,
and who spoke firmly, though she was evidently controlling herself with
an effort.

"And I'm going to confess now," she went on. "Now and here. Miss Grayson
is so kind and dear I don't mind her knowing, and the rest of you
_must_ know. I must tell you,--I can't _live_ if I don't."

"All right, Zaly, dear, tell us," and Patty sat beside her, and put a
caressing hand on her arm.

"I am Alice Adams," Azalea said, "and I am not Azalea Thorpe at
all,--and I never was."

"Oh!" said Farnsworth, beginning to see light.

"I am a wicked girl," the pathetic little voice went on. "I lived in
Homer's Corners,--and I lived with the woman who keeps the post-office
there. I've been an orphan since I was four, and this woman brought me
up,--though it scarcely could be called that, for she only looked on me
as her assistant in the office and in her house.

"Well, one day a letter came for Azalea Thorpe. Now, the Thorpes moved
away from Horner's Corners two years ago, and we never knew their new
address. The few letters that came for them were sent to the Dead Letter
Office. This one would have been, but for the fact that it was unsealed.

"It had been sealed, but the envelope was all unstuck, and--I read the
letter. I own up to it,--I know it was wrong,--but I didn't know then
_how_ wrong. You see, I wasn't taught much about