quaint
figure.

"I think, daddy," she said, "I'd like to go home right away and see the
little girl's mother."

He turned his head away again for a moment, but he managed at last to
meet his little daughter's eyes with a smile.

"Run along, sweet," he said.

"Can she stay to supper with us?" asked Suzanna.

"If your mother would like to have her," said the man. "And I'll come up
later for her."

"All right," replied Suzanna.

Now came the hard moment for Peter, in the parting from his dog. He came
reluctantly forward.

Graham, seeing Peter's distress when the animal had been delivered into
David's care, said: "You can come up here often, Peter, and see the dog.
I know it's awful hard giving him up."

Peter's heart was touched. Here at last was one who understood! Here at
last was one who would not condemn a dog merely because he had an
unnaturally big appetite; because he got around under people's feet and
had no manners.

"You're a very nice boy," said Suzanna when they were parting, "and we
wish you would come to see us."

Graham's face lit. "Oh, I will come. Do you live in that little cottage
with the crooked chimney?"

"Yes," said Suzanna. "Come soon, won't you?"

Graham promised he would do so.

As the Procter children went down the road, Graham watched them, but his
gaze presently concentrated itself on Suzanna, who was leading the small
Daphne.

"I like Suzanna," thought Graham. "I like to see her flush up like a
rose when she speaks." Which was a poetical observation for a boy of
twelve.

CHAPTER XV

A LENT MOTHER

Mrs. Procter was in the dining-room arranging the shelves of her small
sideboard when she heard sounds betokening the children's return.

They entered the dining-room, Suzanna leading a small stranger by the
hand, Maizie and Peter behind.

"Mother," began Suzanna at once, "David, the gardener, took the dog and
we brought this little girl home to see you."

Mrs. Procter looked questioningly at Daphne, who stood close to
Suzanna's protecting arm.

"Stay with Maizie a moment, Daphne," said Suzanna, "while I tell my
mother something." Daphne smiled and did as she was told, and Suzanna
went close to Mrs. Procter. In a low tone she said: "Daphne's mother
went far away awhile ago, and I'm telling this to you in a low voice
because Daphne cried when we asked her where her mother was. I brought
her home so she could remember how beautiful a mother is."

In an instant t