Astonished at such an almost divine insight and compassion, Pepeeta
exclaimed, "How came you to know so much of the tragedy of human life,
so much of the soul's weakness and guilt; you who have lived so quietly
in this happy home?"

"By consulting my own heart, dear. We do not differ in ourselves so much
as in our experiences and temptations. But thee has talked enough about
thy troubles. Tell me thy name? What shall we call thee?"

"My name is Pepeeta."

"And mine is Dorothea."

"Oh! Dorothea," Pepeeta exclaimed, "do you think we shall ever see him
again?"

"I cannot tell. We had made many inquiries and given up in despair. And
now when we least expected news, thee has come! We will cherish hope
again. We were discouraged too easily."

"Oh! how strong you are--how comforting. Yes, we will cherish hope, and
when I am well I will start out, and search for him everywhere. I shall
find him. My heart tells me so."

"But thee is not well enough, yet," Dorothea said, with a kind smile,
"and until thee is, thee must be at rest in thy soul and, abiding here
with us, await the revelation of the divine will."

"Oh, may I stay a little while? It is so quiet and restful here. I feel
like a tired bird that has found a refuge from a storm. But what will
your husband say, when he hears this story?"

"Thee need not be troubled about that. His door and heart are ever open
to those who labor and are heavy laden. The Christ has found a faithful
follower in him, Pepeeta. It was he who first divined thy story."

"Then you knew me?"

"We had conjectured."

"Then I will stay, oh, I will stay a little while, and perhaps,
perhaps--who knows?" she clasped her hands, her soul looked out of her
eyes, and a smile of genuine happiness lit up her sad face.

"Yes, who knows?" said Dorothea, gently, rearranging the pillows and
bidding the invalid fall asleep again.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE LITTLE LAD

"Better to be driven out from among men, than to be disliked of
children."

--Dana.

Pepeeta took her place in this hospitable household as an orphan child
might have done. Just as a flower unfolding from a plant, or a bird
building its nest in a tree is almost instantly "at home," so it was
with Pepeeta.

When she was strong enough to work, she began to assume domestic cares
and to discharge them in a quiet and beautiful way which brought a sweet
relief to the full hands of the overburdened housewife. And her