d been found and
questioned. The cook had been with Mr. Mayo two years. He was "an
easy-going gentleman, good pay, and no interferer." The year before, she
said, he had gone to Virginia, summoned by a telegram announcing his
sister's death, and had brought back his orphan niece, Anne Lewis. The
cook had never seen nor heard of any other member of his family.

The police officer suggested that the child should be put in an
institution for the care of destitute children. He gave information as
to the steps necessary in such a case and professed his willingness to
give any further help desired.

Miss Drayton and Mrs. Patterson read and reread the letter.

"Well?" asked Miss Drayton.

"We'll not send her to an asylum, you know," said Mrs. Patterson,
decidedly. "Unless her own people claim her, we will keep her. Anne
shall be my little daughter."

So it was settled, and the family party went on to Paris. The great
physician made a careful examination of Mrs. Patterson. He, too, was
unwilling to express an opinion about her condition. He would prefer, he
said, to have madame under treatment awhile at his private hospital, a
quiet place in the suburbs.

It was promptly decided to accept Dr. La Farge's suggestion. Mrs.
Patterson's health being the object of their journey, there was no
reason why they should winter in Nantes if in Paris she could secure
more helpful treatment. It was resolved, therefore, to send Pat and Anne
to boarding-schools while Mrs. Patterson and Miss Drayton put themselves
under the doctor's orders.

"Oh! Aren't we going to Nantes?" asked Anne, when Miss Drayton informed
her of the changed plans.

"No, Anne. I've just told you, we are all going to stay in or near
Paris."

"Not going there at all? ever?" the child persisted.

"I don't know; probably not." Miss Drayton was worried and this made her
tone crisp and impatient.

"O--oh!" wailed Anne, her self-control giving way before the sudden
disappointment. "I want to go. I want to go to Nantes."

Miss Drayton was amazed. What ailed the child? Why this passionate
desire to go to Nantes, a city of which, as she owned, she had never
even heard until she was told that it was their destination?

"Anne, Anne! For pity's sake!" said Miss Drayton. "Why are you so
anxious to go to Nantes?"

But Anne only rocked back and forth, sobbing, "I want to go to Nantes! I
want to go to Nantes!"

She had been counting the days till, according to her uncle'