had ever suggested this outing and, like the Lady Principal, both
sorry and angry over its ending.

Dorothy had ridden to the exhibition in the very last sleigh of all,
as Robin had in the first, and when they all left the hotel after
dinner he had lingered beside her while she waited for the other teams
to drive on and her own to come up.

This took a long time, there was so much ado in settling so many girls
to the satisfaction of all; and looking backward he saw that there
would still be a delay of several moments.

"I say, Dorothy, come on. I want to show you where we used to live
before my father died. We'll be back in plenty time. It's the dearest
little house, with only two rooms in it; but after we left it nobody
lived there and it's all gone to pieces. Makes me feel bad but I'd
like to show you. Just down that block and around a side street. Come
on. What's the use standing here?"

"Sure we can be back in time, Robin?"

"Certain. Cross my heart. I'm telling you the truth. It's only a step
or so."

"Well, then, let's hurry."

Hurry they did, he whistling as usual, until they came to a narrow
alley that had used to be open but had now been closed by a great pile
of lumber, impossible for them to climb.

"Oh! pshaw! Somebody must be going to build here. But never mind. Our
house was right yonder, we can go another way."

His interest as well as hers in exploring "new places," made them
forget everything else; and when, at last, they came to Robin's old
home a full half-hour had passed.

It was, indeed, a sorry place. Broken windows, hanging doors and
shutters, chimney fallen, and doorstep gone. Nobody occupied it now
except, possibly, a passing tramp or the street gamin who had
destroyed it.

"My! I'm glad my Mother can't see it now. She never has since we moved
down to our cottage in the glen. It would break her dear heart, for my
father built it when they were first married. That was the kitchen,
that the bedroom--Hark! What's that?"

"Sounded like a cat."

"Didn't to me. Cats are squealier'n that was. I wonder if anybody or
thing is in there now. If I had time I'd go and see."

"Robin, wouldn't you be afraid?"

"Afraid? Afraid to go into my own house, that was, that my father
built with his own hands? Huh! What do you take me for? I'd as soon go
in there as eat my din--Hello! There certainly--"

They put their heads close to the paneless window and listened
intently. That was a human groa