carriage, he bowed low to Dorothy, his face wreathed in a smile of
such broad proportions that it seemed his features could never go
back into their proper places.

"Lordy, lil' missy, I's suah glad tuh sot mah eyes on yo' once mo'.
Ole Bellvieu hain't eben been interestin' sence yo' lef las' fall."

"Do you mean that, Metty?" cried the girl, her heart warming toward
the little fellow for the sincerity of his welcome.

"Yas'm, lil' missy, I suah does mean hit. An' I hain't de only one
dat's missed yo'. Mrs. Betty done been habin' seben fits sence yo'
went off tuh school, an' as fo' Dinah en Chloe, dey hain't smiled
onct all wintah. Dey'll all be glad tuh see yo' back--yas'm, dey suah
will!"

"And how is Aunt Betty?" the girl asked, a little catch in her voice.
Instinctively she seemed to dread the answer. Aunt Betty was getting
old, and her health had not been of the best recently.

"She's pow'ful pooh, lil' missy, but I jes' knows she'll git plenty
ob strength w'en she sees yo' lookin' so fine en strong."

"Well, take us to her," said Dorothy, "and don't spare the horses."

"Yas'm--yas'm--I'll suah do dat--I'll suah do dat!"

Through the narrow, crowded streets of old Baltimore the
Calvert carriage dashed, with Dorothy and Jim inside, and Ephraim
keeping company with Metty on the box. Metty chose a route through
the dirtiest streets, where tumbledown houses swarmed with
strange-looking people, who eyed the party curiously; but this was
the shortest way to the great country home of the Calverts. Soon the
streets grew wider, the air purer, then the Chesapeake burst into
view, the salty air refreshing the tired occupants of the carriage as
nothing had done for days.

Finally, the glistening carriage and finely caparisoned horses sped
on a swift trot through the great gateway at Bellvieu, and Dorothy,
leaning out of the window, saw Aunt Betty standing expectantly on the
steps of the old mansion.

Home at last!

CHAPTER II

AT OLD BELLVIEU AGAIN

"Oh, Aunt Betty, Aunt Betty!" cried Dorothy, as she leaped from the
carriage and dashed across the lawn toward the steps, followed more
leisurely by Jim. "I just can't wait to get to you!"

Aunt Betty gave an hysterical little laugh and folded the girl in her
arms with such a warmth of affection that tears sprang into Dorothy's
eyes.

"My dear, dear child!" was all the old lady could say. Then her lip
began to tremble and she seemed on the verge of cry