hear what was said on the other side. How surprised
she would have been if she had known the last conversation was with her
own father!

Then a very kind-looking lady came in and kissed her. "The motor is
round," she said. "I'm so glad to have seen you, dear. We all admire
your father very much."

Dorothy felt bewildered but followed her out, and there was a lovely
motor, and her friend in it!

"You won't faint by the way this time," he said, "eh? Now, if you can
keep your own counsel, little lady, you may hear some good news
to-night."

They were tearing along the level road already, and almost in a flash,
it seemed to Dorothy, they were passing the church of her own village.

"Oh, please let me get out!" she said to Mr. Lawrence in an agony. "If
mother heard the motor she might think it was Miss Addiscombe, and be so
disappointed. You have been kind, very, very kind, but I can't help
thinking about father."

He let her out, and waving his hand, was soon off and out of sight.
Dorothy walked slowly and sadly home. It seemed as if she had been away
for _days_, and she was half afraid to go in, but to her surprise
nothing seemed to have happened at all. Only Dick came rushing out, and,
to her surprise, kissed her.

[Sidenote: A Heroine]

"I say, Dollie!" he began, "where _have_ you been? You gave me an awful
fright. Don't tell any one I called you a brute."

"Is mother frightened?" said Dollie. "I--I meant to help, but I've done
nothing."

"How could you help?" said Dick, surprised. "Mother stayed in bed; she
is only getting up now."

A boy came up with a telegram. Dick took it and after holding it a
moment tore it open.

"Oh, Dick!" expostulated Dorothy, "opening mother's telegram!"

But Dick threw his cap high up in the air, and shouted "_Jubilate!_"
Then he rushed up the stairs, Dorothy timidly following.

This was the wire:

"_See daylight. Meeting Lawrence at Holborn Restaurant._--FATHER."

"Don't shut Dorothy out," said Mrs. Graham, holding the yellow paper,
and with tears of joy standing in her eyes. "Why, my little girl, how
pale you are! I wish I had not told you. You need never have known. Mr.
Lawrence is just the man."

"Oh, mother!" said Dorothy, springing into her arms, and beginning to
laugh and cry at once, yet happier than she had ever been in her life
before. "But if you hadn't told me it couldn't have happened."

When Mr. Lawrence and father came down together that evening and th