bing and blinked up at her, disclosing a face of
unmistakably Keltic ancestry.

"What is the matter?" Theodora repeated.

"Huh?"

Theodora experienced a momentary shock. Not thus had her dreamed-of
foundlings answered to her imaginary queries. She rallied and reiterated
her question. The child's tears fell again.

"I'm--I'm losted, and I'm tired and so hungry."

Even in this woful climax, Theodora noted the gurgle of the child's
sobs. She told herself that it was like water bubbling from a bottle, a
large earthen bottle. Then she reproached herself for her misplaced
sense of humor.

There followed a little question, a little answer, a little consolation.
Then, before she quite realized what she was doing, Theodora was walking
rapidly towards home, with brotherly love swelling in her heart, and the
child's smutty hand clasped in her woollen mitten. She had delayed
longer than she knew, the walk home was long, and before she reached
there, the twilight had quite fallen, the house was brightly lighted,
and the family were gathered in the dining-room.

"Dear me, they're all at supper!" she said to herself, as she went up
the steps. "Never mind, little girl," she added, with a conscious
patronage which not even her sympathy could keep down. "They're having
their supper now. I'll take you up to my room, and, as soon as they're
through, I'll give you something to eat."

Her feminine intuition told her that the child's welcome would not be so
warm if she were presented at the supper-table. For a moment, she
hesitated what disposition to make of her charge. Then, herself hungry
and eager to get to the table and tell the story of her adventure,
she led the way to her room and popped the child into her own dainty
bed.

Mrs. McAlister looked up as Theodora entered the room.

[Illustration: "TEDDY, DEAR, THIS IS MY BROTHER ARCHIE, COME AT LAST."]

"You are late, Teddy, and I was just getting anxious about you. Archie,
this is my twin daughter, Theodora. Teddy dear, this is my dear brother
Archie, come at last." There was an exultant note in Mrs. McAlister's
voice which Theodora had never heard before.

Theodora gave a quick glance at the stranger who sat between her
stepmother and Hope, and the first look told her that she had found a
friend, one who would be true and loyal as a man could be. There was
nothing especially distinctive about Archie Holden. He was tall and
blond and athletic, sufficiently good-looking, an