"Oh, out in the park, and down by the river. I think you will like
it."

Clematis put on the coat as quickly as she could. Then she took Miss
Rose by the hand.

"Come on, let's go," she said.

"You might wait till I get my coat and hat on." Miss Rose was
laughing at her.

Soon they were down by the river. Miss Rose sat on the gravel, while
Clematis ran along the edge of the water.

She sailed bits of wood for boats, and threw little stones in, to
see the rings they made. She was very, very happy.

"Clematis," said Miss Rose, "don't you remember the street you lived
on?"

Clematis thought a minute.

"How would you know the street you lived on if nobody ever told
you?"

Miss Rose thought a moment.

"Don't you remember your mother's name?"

Clematis shook her head.

"I don't remember. It was a long time ago."

"Do you mean she died a long time ago?"

Miss Rose asked her some other questions. At last she said:

"Well, tell me the name of the man you lived with."

"His name was Smith."

"Oh dear, there are so many Smiths, we shall never guess the right
one. Dear me, Clematis. I don't know how we shall ever find your
home."

Clematis threw a big stone into the water, which made a big splash.

"I hope you never will," she said.

"Why, Clematis! Do you mean that you wish never to go back where you
came from?"

"Well, how would you like to live in a place where you had to stay
in an old brick yard all day, and never saw even grass?"

[Illustration: Thinking of the land of flowers]

Miss Rose thought a while. Then she got up and started back to the
Home.

Clematis followed her slowly. She was sorry to go.

That night Mrs. Snow talked with Miss Rose again.

"She must have lived in the city," said Miss Rose. "She had to stay
in a yard paved with bricks all day. She doesn't remember her
parents at all. She ran away, that is sure."

"I hardly know what to do," said Mrs. Snow, at last. "She can stay
here for a while, and perhaps the people she lived with will find
her here."

So Mrs. Snow told the policeman what they had found out, and he said
they would do the best they could to find her people.

That night Clematis did not go to the little room near the maple
tree to sleep. She went into the big room.

Jane slept in the bed next to hers. Miss Rose told her to see that
Clematis had what help she needed in going to bed.

The day had been a busy one for Clematis. She was very sleepy.

"I