unt Betty, please! I found her. Oh! let me be the one to
give her back!"

Mrs. Calvert looked keenly into her darling's eyes, and after a
moment, answered:

"I might be willing; but should you desert your guests? And if you do,
what shall I say to them for you?"

"Just this: that a messenger has come who knows where Luna belongs and
that I'm going with him to take her home. That'll make it all right.
You might tell Dinah to keep Luna--Leah--I came pretty near her name,
didn't I?--to keep her contented somewhere till I come for her and to
put on her own old clothes. I have a feeling that that proud old
miller would like it better that way."

There was a mist in Aunt Betty's eyes as she stooped and kissed the
eager face of her unselfish child; but she went quietly away and did
as she was asked. Left in the summer-house alone with Dorothy Eli
Wroth relapsed into silence. He had had hard work to make himself
unburden his guilt and having done so he felt exhausted; remarking
once only:

"Thee may be sure that the worm hurts itself too when it turns. Thee
must never turn but kiss the cheek which smites thee."

After which rather mixed advice he said no more; not even when all the
other carriages having rolled out of the great gateway, Dorothy
disappeared in search of Portia and the cart; nor did he cast more
than one inquiring glance upon Leah, sitting on the front seat beside
the girlish driver. As for the other, she paid him no more heed than
she did to anything else. She might have been seeing him every day,
for all surprise she evinced; and as for resentment against him she
was too innocent to feel that.

The ride was not a long one, but it seemed such to Dorothy. At times
her thoughts would stray after her departed friends and a wish that
she were with them, enjoying the novelties of the County Fair, disturb
her. But she had only to glance at the little creature beside her to
forget regret and be glad.

Also, if her tongue was perforce silent, her brain was busy, and with
something of her Aunt Betty's decision, she intended to have her say
before that coming interview was finished.

All was very quiet at Heartsease when she reached it. Even the twins
were abnormally serious, sitting on the wide, flat doorstep of the
kitchen entrance, and looking so comical that Dolly laughed. For the
Fifth Day meeting Dorcas had clothed them properly. Her ransacking of
old closets had resulted in her finding a small lad's sui