She looked at the clock. "I don't think so," she said quietly. "It's
hours since I slipped out by the back door. They have very strict rules
about runaway girls--even when their friends bring them back. If _you_
send me back--" she stopped, and looked thoughtfully into the fire.

"What will you do, if I send you back?"

"What one of our girls did, before they took her in at the Home. She
jumped into the river. 'Made a hole in the water'; that's how she calls
it. She's a big strong girl; and they got her out, and saved her. She
says it wasn't painful, till they brought her to again. I'm little and
weak--I don't think they could bring _me_ to life, if they tried."

Amelius made a futile attempt to reason with her. He even got so far
as to tell her that she had done very wrong to leave the Home. Sally's
answer set all further expostulation at defiance. Instead of attempting
to defend herself, she sighed wearily, and said, "I had no money; I
walked all the way here."

The well-intended remonstrances of Amelius were lost in compassionate
surprise. "You poor little soul!" he exclaimed, "it must be seven or
eight miles at least!"

"I dare say," said Sally. "It don't matter, now I've found you."

"But how did you find me? Who told you where I lived?"

She smiled, and took from her bosom the photograph of the cottage.

"But Mrs. Payson cut off the address!" cried Amelius, bursting out with
the truth in the impulse of the moment.

Sally turned over the photograph, and pointed to the back of the card,
on which the photographer's name and address were printed. "Mrs. Payson
didn't think of this," she said shyly.

"Did _you_ think of it?" Amelius asked.

Sally shook her head. "I'm too stupid," she replied. "The girl who made
the hole in the water put me up to it. 'Have you made up your mind to
run away?' she says. And I said, 'Yes.' 'You go to the man who did the
picture,' she says; 'he knows where the place is, I'll be bound.' I
asked my way till I found him. And he did know. And he told me. He was a
good sort; he gave me a glass of beer, he said I looked so tired. I said
we'd go and have our portraits taken some day--you, and your servant.
May I tell the funny old foreigner that he is to go away now I have come
to you?" The complete simplicity with which she betrayed her jealousy
of Toff made Amelius smile. Sally, watching every change in his face,
instantly drew her own conclusion. "Ah!" she said cheerfully, "I'll kee