t eighteen, came running to him, and after whispering
to her for a minute, he left Dorothy in her charge, and went into the
room where his wife was sitting.

"I thought you had gone to town?" she said.

[Sidenote: Mr. Lawrence's Mistake]

"Providentially, no," he said, so gravely that she looked surprised. "Do
you remember Addiscombe Graham, dear?"

"Has anything happened to him?" said Mrs. Lawrence. "I have just been
reading about him in the paper; all his life-saving appliances have had
gold medals at the exhibition. What is it, Edward? Of course, I know you
are a friend of his."

"A Judas sort of friend," said Mr. Lawrence. "Do you know what I've
done? I've nearly landed him in the Bankruptcy Court. Pemberton told me
a few weeks ago he had promised to give him some spare cash that would
be loose at the end of the year, and I persuaded him to put it in
something else. I said, 'Graham doesn't want it, he's simply _coining_
over his inventions,' and I thought it too. Now it appears he was
_counting_ on that money to pull him through the expenses."

The tall girl took Dorothy upstairs to a beautiful bathroom, got her
warm water, and asked if she would like a maid to do her hair.

After a little while she came for her again and took her into a very
pretty room, where there was a dainty little table laid for breakfast.

"When you have finished," she said, "just lie on the sofa and rest. I am
sorry I can't stay with you, but I must go and feed the peacocks."

[Illustration: HER HOSTESS HAD BEEN FEEDING THE PEACOCKS.]

Dorothy took a little toast and tea, but she did not feel so very hungry
after all, and for a time was quite glad to lie down on the couch. Once
or twice she got up and looked out of the window. Her girl hostess was
moving across the lawn. She had evidently been feeding the peacocks,
and was now gathering flowers. How pleasant all this wealth and comfort
seemed to Dorothy! And then, by comparison, _she_ was feeling so
miserable!

Everything was quite quiet in the house save for the telephone bell,
which kept sounding in the hall. Then she heard Mr. Lawrence calling
out: "Are you _there_? Look sharp! Yes, to-day. Money down! Do you
understand?" Then he would ring off and call up some one else. Last of
all his voice changed from a business tone to a very friendly one. "Are
you there? What cheer, old chap? _That's_ all right! I'll see you
through. Two o'clock, Holborn Restaurant."

Dorothy could not