with money in
it."

Alice returned to her new companion, and Edward and Pablo continued to
unload the cart.

"Well, Pablo, I suppose you will allow that, now that you know she is a
girl, she is handsomer than you?"

"Oh yes," replied Pablo, "very handsome girl; but too much girl for
handsome boy."

At last everything was out of the cart, the iron chest dragged into
Pablo's room, and Billy put into his stable and given his supper, which
he had well earned, for the cart had been very heavily loaded. They
then all sat down to supper, Edward saying to their new acquaintance--

"So I find that I am to have another sister instead of another brother.
Now you will tell me your name?"

"Yes; Clara is my name."

"And why did you not tell me that you are a girl?"

"I did not like, because I was in boys' clothes, and felt ashamed;
indeed I was too unhappy to think about what I was. My poor dear
father!" and she burst into tears.

Alice and Edith kissed her and consoled her, and she became calm again.
After supper was over they busied themselves making arrangements for her
sleeping in their room, and then they went to prayers.

"We have much to be thankful for, my dears," said Edward. "I am sure I
feel that I have been in great danger, and I only wish that I had been
more useful than I have been; but it has been the will of God, and we
must not arraign His decrees. Let us return thanks for His great
mercies, and bow in submission to His dispensations, and pray that He
will give peace to poor little Clara, and soften her affliction."

And as Edward prayed, little Clara knelt and sobbed, while Alice
caressed her with her arm round her waist, and at times stopped her
prayer to kiss and console her. When they had finished, Alice led her
away to her bedroom, followed by Edith, and they put her to bed. Edward
and Pablo also retired, both worn out by the fatigue and excitement of
the day.

They were up on the following morning at day-dawn, and, putting Billy in
the cart, set off for the cottage of Clara. They found everything as
they had left it, and, having loaded the cart with what had been left
behind the day before, the bedding for two beds, with several articles
of furniture which Edward thought might be useful, there being still a
little room left, Edward packed up in a wooden case with dried fern all
the wine that was in the cupboard; and, having assisted Pablo in forcing
the cart once more through the path in