ut him up somew'ere way off hid. Of a truth, Jean cannot tell. But I
go hunt for M'sieu' Tom an' fin' out. Then I tell." Jean seemed
determined to impress upon his hearers that he would "fin'" Tom Gray.

"When can you start north, Jean?" Grace waited breathlessly for the
answer.

"Soon; to-morrow," came the quick assurance. "First I go to my cabin to
mak' ready. In the morning I come here early an' say the _au revoir_.
Then I go an' fin' M'sieu' Tom. You are satisfy?" His shrewd black eyes
sought the approval of the trio of tense faces bent earnestly upon him.

"We are more than satisfied." Impulsively Mrs. Gray stretched forth a
little blue-veined hand. Somewhat to that estimable woman's astonishment
old Jean bent and with true Gallic chivalry raised it lightly to his
lips. "I am honor that you trust," he said simply.

Looking on, Grace was immeasurably touched by the woodsman's quaintly
respectful act of deference toward her Fairy Godmother. Her romantic
fancy transformed rugged old Jean into a gallant knight about to fare
forth on a dangerous errand.

"You are a true Frenchman, Jean," smiled the pleased old lady. "A
lifetime spent in roughing it hasn't robbed you of inherent chivalry.
Did you know that Miss Briggs remembered you from hearsay and was the
first one to suggest that you would be the very person to hunt for Tom?"

"Mam'selle Grace has said," affirmed Jean. Turning to Elfreda he
continued almost humbly, "Mam'selle, I hav' only to be grateful to you
that you hav' remember me. Of a certainty, I shall not forget."

Jean lingered for a little further talk, then departed for his cabin,
with many quaint bobbing bows. But he left behind him an atmosphere of
revivified hope.

"We must go, too, J. Elfreda," reminded Grace, a distinct ring of
cheerfulness in her accents. "This is Bridget's afternoon out and I
promised Mother that I'd see that neither you or I starved. Father won't
be home for dinner to-night, either, so we shall dine in lonely state.
Mother went to spend the day with friends in Carrollton, and Father is
to go to their house to dinner to-night and bring Mother home," Grace
explained to Mrs. Gray.

"Then you had better stay with me," advised Mrs. Gray. "Left to
yourselves I haven't the slightest doubt that you will talk much and eat
little. Besides, I know that the mere mention of hot waffles and honey
will make Elfreda linger. Stay, and we'll have an old-fashioned supper."

"I couldn't be