ted to find her way about the entire city alone, but her father had often cautioned Delia and the girl herself against putting her power to the test, and so it happened that until no

ccession, and it seemed to her they whizzed jeeringly at her as they sped. She was by nature so fearless that even if the street had not

this reflection as she turned off the broad, well-lighted thoroughfare into the dimmer side-street upon which Mr. Turner lived, and she ran up the steps of his house with the question still unsettled. It was not a moment before the door was opened to her and she was admitted to the w

e at this time of day?" was Mr. Turner's greet

"I came to see you about Miss Blak

his, but I have been unusually busy, and every moment has been taken up. Now tell me, isn

d not come here at all or the lawyer was trying to baffle her. And if Miss Blake had not come here

hing. Every one does. I think I never knew any one who was more universally loved. Now, how can I hel

ly as being a way out of her diffi

enially. "And after dark, too! A note would have served, you know; a note would have served. But I'm gl

d that it was night. It was too late then to overtake her, so he had to resign himself with the thought tha

her other worry, seemed to pursue her, and presently her imagination so quickened at the thought that she actually fancied she heard some one behind keeping step with her. She broke into a brisk run. Clap! clap! came the sound of hastening feet behind her. With a sort of tortured courage she slackened her pace. Whatever was following her also took a slower gait. She cast a furtive look over her shoulder and gave a horrified g

er ear in a tone that was intended to seem engaging. "Don't try to run aw

ng touch and hurried on without a word.

f me, are you?" he

to cling to the pavement. Every time

is. I ain't going to hurt you. I'm only a poor man who would be g

as she could, but always having to torture it intolerably with every onward limp. Her persecutor caught up with her promptly, and she cast beseeching looks for deliverance on every side, which the hurrying, preoccupied crowd was too intent on its own affairs to see. If only she could see a policeman! She knew what she would do. She would make believe s

ss Blake!" she

an

r in a flash, her own face almost

overness was

go away; make some one send him a

e a shade paler. "What man?"

, but if there had actually been such a man as the girl described he must certainly

, "where have you been? Delia and I have been frantic with worry

ankle grew fiercer with every movement.

ied Miss Blake, now for the first t

dded d

t's better! Bear down as hard as you can and use

uriously surrounded by all sorts of downy cushions and having her injured ankle bound in soothing cloths by the tenderest of hands. Delia, full of sympathy and the des

I don't think it is an actual sprain," said Miss Blake, consolingly. "However, if the pain is s

t upright w

Milbank was our doctor? Why, we've had him for years and years.

ething about the dinner, and Miss Blake ben

ear," she repl

thought he might be your physician. He's so convenient-within call

atisfied. "Dr. Pardee lives near, too. Just

Delia came staggering in under the weight of

an," she said. "Won't it be fun?" and she set to work unfolding a strange foreign-look

it makes!" exclaimed Nan, admi

, but it was made in Indi

elf. "You have lots of nice things," she added, after a moment. "

hey are yours whenever you care to use

" said Nan, not quite knowing how

t?" assented

d neither does Mr. Turner. I wish we didn't. I think it w

ouldn'

rd with a look of rea

we might?" she

the other room. This might be re-well, re-arranged

in disgust. "Who wants to look at a lot of old trunks and brok

considere

gs out entirely and make a conservatory of it. It f

," she cried. "I never should have thought of it. I say, Mi

hem?" demanded the govern

Nan, heartily.

s Delia wouldn't consent. You know there is no dumb-waiter in the house, and if sh

orrid old house! Can't do a single thing with it! It

for wanting the improvements," she retorted. "I thoug

do," decl

and the governess set down her glas

and Miss Blake removed the wonderful folding stand, the g

er run out after dark alone again. It is

tly. When the governess spoke in that low, decided

," Nan answered, in a

llingly would have, gone with you. Never hesitate to ask m

t you had gone away-for go

ink I had gone away for good?" she as

her head a

inued the governess, aft

I said-I didn't, honestly and truly. Before you came I learned it off, and I meant

you would rather I did not know? What I was going to say is this: I was in my room this afternoon and I heard a man crying 'Chestnuts!' It carried me back to the time when I was a little girl and used to roast them in this ver

and I went to Mr. Turner's to bring you back-if you would come. Say, now, didn't you hear what I said to Delia? I was

that a struggle of some sort was going on in her mi

hear!" she conf

eks blazed wit

eave?" she said. "You were only

ke shook

nk you will ever wish to cut me as deeply as that, and so-and so-I will stay until-the general orders me off the field. The day I hear that your father is to come back, that day I will re