ounger members of her family.

Nan could write to her chum, however, and did. She could write to
Momsey, and did that, too; not forgetting to tell her absent parents
about old Toby Vanderwiller, and his wife and his grandson, and of their
dilemma. If only Momsey's great fortune came true, Nan was sure that
Gedney Raffer would be paid off and Toby would no longer have the threat
of dispossession held over him.

Nan Sherwood wrote, too, to Mr. Mangel, the principal of the Tillbury
High School, and told him about the collection the crippled grandson
of the old lumberman had made, mentioning those specimens which had
impressed her most. She had some hope that the strange moth might be
very valuable.

Nan was so busy writing letters, and helping Aunt Kate preserve some
early summer fruit, that she did not go far from the house during the
next few days, and so did not see even Margaret Llewellen. The other
girl friends she had made at Pine Camp lived too far away for her to
visit them often or have them come to call on her.

A long letter from Papa Sherwood about this time served to take Nan's
mind off the mystery, in part, at least. It was a nice letter and most
joyfully received by the girl; but to her despair it gave promise of no
very quick return of her parents from Scotland:

"Those relatives of your mother's whom we have met here, Mr. Andrew
Blake's family, for instance, have treated us most kindly. They are,
themselves, all well-to-do, and gentlefolk as well. The disposal by
Old Hughie Blake, as he was known hereabout, of his estate makes no
difference to the other Blakes living near Emberon," wrote Mr. Sherwood.

"It is some kin at a distance, children of a half sister of Old Hughie,
who have made a claim against the estate. Mr. Andrew Blake, who is well
versed in the Scotch law, assures us these distant relatives have not
the shadow of a chance of winning their suit. He is so sure of this that
he has kindly offered to advance certain sums to your mother to tide us
over until the case is settled.

"I am sending some money to your Uncle Henry for your use, if any
emergency should arise. You must not look for our return, my dear Nancy,
too soon. Momsey's health is so much improved by the sea voyage and the
wonderfully invigorating air here, that I should be loath to bring her
home at once, even if the matter of the legacy were settled. By the way,
the sum she will finally receive from Mr. Hugh Blake's estate wil