am, but I could not, and now father is dead and Charlie, and
mother wants to go home to live with her father, and I am
coming home to you! Mother told me to write and ask if I may,
and I am very well and happy, but, oh, I am longing to see you
and granny. I nearly broke my heart at first, but I am coming
home again, and I am so happy, only I am sorry, too, to leave
here, and the lady who has been so kind to me. She is old and
feels very miserable at being left all alone. Good-bye, granp
and granny. I shall come as soon as ever I can when I hear
from you. Please write soon. Give my love to granny, I hope
she'll soon get better,

"From your loving,"
"Jessie Lang."

It was well that Miss Grace stayed by the old couple, for they both
needed her by the time the letter was read.

"She is well, and she must have met with kindness, or she would not
be sorry to leave," she said cheerfully. "Now, Mrs. Dawson, we shall
have her back with us almost at once, so it behoves us to set about
getting everything ready for her," she went on, in her sensible,
matter-of-fact way, for she felt that the best thing for both of them
was to keep them busy with preparations.

Patience caught her spirit at once. "You must write to-night,
Thomas," she said eagerly, "you mustn't delay, for the child is
waiting for a word and she mustn't be disappointed, whatever happens.
I expect she's pretty nigh broken her heart many a time longing to
write to us, and--and--her father wouldn't let her. I can read
between the lines. I'm sure 'twas his doings--"

"He is dead now," said Miss Grace softly, "so we will forgive him and
put away all hard thoughts of him, and maybe your little flower was
taken from you just to brighten a dark corner for the time, and bring
happiness to others--perhaps to learn some lesson that will help her
in the future."

"Maybe," said Patience, but more gently; "my little blossom," she
added softly. "P'raps it was greedy to want to keep her to ourselves
always."

Thomas had dropped into a chair by the door. "I've got to write, and
I can't," he said solemnly, looking up with a half comic, half
wistful look in his blue eyes. "My hands is shaking, and my wits is
shaking, and--and--but I must, of course, and I am going to Norton
to-night to post it, so as the child can get it in the m