ore about
the discovery of Mr. Foster in the old house. It proved that he had
leaped from a high window, hurting himself badly by the fall, when he
made his escape from prison, and that he had been wandering in the woods
for days. The officers had come at once, and there was a group of men
outside the Fosters' house. This had a terrible look to Betty. Everybody
said that the doctor believed there was only a slight chance for Mr.
Foster's life, and that they were not going to try to take him back to
jail. He had been delirious all night. One or two kindly disposed
persons said that they pitied his poor family more than ever, but most
of the neighbors insisted that "it served Foster just right." Betty did
her errand as quickly as possible, and hastily brushed by some curious
friends who tried to detain her. She felt as if it were unkind and
disloyal to speak of her neighbor's trouble to everybody, and the
excitement and public concern of the little village astonished her very
much. She did not know, until then, how the joy or trouble of one home
could affect the town as if it were one household. Everybody spoke very
kindly to her, and most people called her "Betty," and seemed to know
her very well, whether they had ever spoken to her before or not. The
women were standing at their front doors or their gates, to hear
whatever could be told, and our friend looked down the long street and
felt that it was like running the gauntlet to get home again. Just then
she met the doctor, looking gray and troubled, as if he had been awake
all night, but when he saw Betty his face brightened.

"Well done, my little lady," he said, in a cheerful voice, which made
her feel steady again, and then he put his hand on Betty's shoulder and
looked at her very kindly.

"Oh, doctor! may I walk along with you a little way?" she faltered.
"Everybody asks me to tell"--

"Yes, yes, I know all about it," said the doctor; and he turned and took
Betty's hand as if she were a child, and they walked away together. It
was well known in Tideshead that Dr. Prince did not like to be
questioned about his patients.

"I was wondering whether I ought to go to see Nelly," said Betty, as
they came near the house. "I haven't seen her since I came home with her
yesterday. I--didn't quite dare to go in as I came by."

"Wait until to-morrow, perhaps," said the doctor. "The poor man will be
gone then, and you will be a greater comfort. Go over through the
garden