at this is where she ought to get out."

Fresh hope rose in Thomas's heart as they made their way along the
whole length of the train. The guard and the porter paused in their
gossip to turn and look at them, the engine-driver hanging lazily
over the side of his box watched them idly. Thomas, who was filled
now with fear that the engine would start off at a wild pace before
they had time to search the carriages, was somewhat relieved by the
lazy look of them all.

"Do you know if there was any little girl on board booked to
Springbrook?" Mr. Simmons asked the guard as they drew near him.

"Why, yes, I b'lieve there was," answered the man casually. "Got in
at St. Pancras. Hasn't she got out?"

"No."

Thomas hurried on more quickly. If she was booked for Springbrook,
and wasn't in the train, no one knew what might have happened to her.
She might have fallen out, or been stolen, or she might have got out
at the wrong station, and a terrible fear weighed on him as he
hurried on.

"Hi! Mr. Dawson, come here! Is this of her, do you think?"

Thomas ran along the platform to the carriage where the
station-master stood, and both looked in. The compartment was empty,
save for a little figure, huddled up fast asleep in one corner.
Thomas looked at her, and his eyes grew misty. "Ye--es, that's of
her," he answered. He hesitated, not because he doubted, for, though
the little face was flushed and tear-stained, and the dark hair all
rumpled about it, it might have been his own little Lizzie again.

The men looked from the child to each other helplessly. "What had we
best do?" said the station-master, in a tone lowered so that it might
not waken the little sleeper. "If she opens her eyes and sees us all
here she'll be frightened."

"And if I touch her it'll wake her up with a start," said her
grandfather anxiously. But before they had settled the knotty point,
the engine-driver, growing tired of waiting, let off a shrill whistle
from his engine and with the sound the little sleeper stirred, opened
her eyes, and sat up suddenly. The porter hastily disappeared from
the doorway, the station-master left the carriage too, but the guard
remained, and nodded and smiled at her reassuringly.

"You remember me, don't you, little one! I've brought you all the
way home, and here we are, and here is grandfather come to see you."

Jessie sat up and looked from one to the other with troubled eyes.
"I want mother," she sai