could never venture upon the great,
black ocean again!"

"It will not be the black ocean this time. It will be the blue ocean,
full of light and promise," said Donald, growing poetic, "and it will
bear you to comfort and prosperity. Dorothy and I will--"

"Dorothy!" cried Ellen Lee. "Yes, I feel as if I could cross two oceans
to see you both together, alive and well, so I could."

At this point Madame Dubois, rousing herself, said, rather querulously,
in her native tongue: "Elise, are you to talk all night? Have you
forgotten that you are to take me to see the lady on the Rue St. Honore
at six?"

"Ah, I did forget," was the reply. "I will go at once, if the young
gentleman will excuse me."

"Certainly," said Donald, rising; "and I shall call again to-morrow, as
I have many things yet to ask you. I'll go now and cable home."

Ellen Lee looked puzzled.

"Can I be forgetting my own language?" she thought to herself. But she
had resolved to be frank with Donald. Had not he and Dorothy already
opened a new life to her? "Cable home?" she repeated. "I do not
understand."

"Why, send a cable message, you know--a message by the ocean telegraph."

"Oh, yes. Bless me! It will be on the other side, too, before one can
wink. It is wonderful; and Mr. Donald,--if I may call you so,--while
you're writing it, would you please, if you wouldn't mind it, send my
love to Miss Dorothy?"

"Good!" cried Donald. "I'll do exactly that. Nothing could be better. It
will tell the story perfectly."

Donald, going down the steep flights of stairs soon afterwards,
intending to return later, longed to send a fine supper to Ellen Lee and
her companion; also beautiful new gowns, furniture, pictures, and
flowers. He felt like a fairy prince, ready to shower benefits upon her,
but he knew that he must be judicious in his kindness, and considerate
of Ellen Lee's feelings. Poor, as she evidently was, she had a proud
spirit, and must not be carelessly rewarded.

* * * * *

Before another night had passed, Uncle George and the anxious-hearted
girl at Lakewood received this message:

[Illustration: ELLEN LEE SENDS LOVE TO DOROTHY.]

FOOTNOTE:

[1] See Frontispiece.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

MADAME RENE TELLS HER STORY.

ON the following day, when Donald again climbed the many flights of
stairs and knocked at her door, he found Madame Rene alone. The
pastry-cook advertisement had succeeded: Marie was gone