Part 58 (2/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration: HER HOSTESS HAD BEEN FEEDING THE PEAc.o.c.kS.]

Dorothy took a little toast and tea, but she did not feel so very hungry after all, and for a time was quite glad to lie down on the couch. Once or twice she got up and looked out of the window. Her girl hostess was moving across the lawn. She had evidently been feeding the peac.o.c.ks, and was now gathering flowers. How pleasant all this wealth and comfort seemed to Dorothy! And then, by comparison, _she_ was feeling so miserable!

Everything was quite quiet in the house save for the telephone bell, which kept sounding in the hall. Then she heard Mr. Lawrence calling out: ”Are you _there_? Look sharp! Yes, to-day. Money down! Do you understand?” Then he would ring off and call up some one else. Last of all his voice changed from a business tone to a very friendly one. ”Are you there? What cheer, old chap? _That's_ all right! I'll see you through. Two o'clock, Holborn Restaurant.”

Dorothy could not hear what was said on the other side. How surprised she would have been if she had known the last conversation was with her own father!

Then a very kind-looking lady came in and kissed her. ”The motor is round,” she said. ”I'm so glad to have seen you, dear. We all admire your father very much.”

Dorothy felt bewildered but followed her out, and there was a lovely motor, and her friend in it!

”You won't faint by the way this time,” he said, ”eh? Now, if you can keep your own counsel, little lady, you may hear some good news to-night.”

They were tearing along the level road already, and almost in a flash, it seemed to Dorothy, they were pa.s.sing the church of her own village.

”Oh, please let me get out!” she said to Mr. Lawrence in an agony. ”If mother heard the motor she might think it was Miss Addis...o...b.., and be so disappointed. You have been kind, very, very kind, but I can't help thinking about father.”

He let her out, and waving his hand, was soon off and out of sight.

Dorothy walked slowly and sadly home. It seemed as if she had been away for _days_, and she was half afraid to go in, but to her surprise nothing seemed to have happened at all. Only d.i.c.k came rus.h.i.+ng out, and, to her surprise, kissed her.

[Sidenote: A Heroine]

”I say, Dollie!” he began, ”where _have_ you been? You gave me an awful fright. Don't tell any one I called you a brute.”

”Is mother frightened?” said Dollie. ”I--I meant to help, but I've done nothing.”

”How could you help?” said d.i.c.k, surprised. ”Mother stayed in bed; she is only getting up now.”

A boy came up with a telegram. d.i.c.k took it and after holding it a moment tore it open.

”Oh, d.i.c.k!” expostulated Dorothy, ”opening mother's telegram!”

But d.i.c.k threw his cap high up in the air, and shouted ”_Jubilate!_”

Then he rushed up the stairs, Dorothy timidly following.

This was the wire:

”_See daylight. Meeting Lawrence at Holborn Restaurant._--FATHER.”

”Don't shut Dorothy out,” said Mrs. Graham, holding the yellow paper, and with tears of joy standing in her eyes. ”Why, my little girl, how pale you are! I wish I had not told you. You need never have known. Mr.

Lawrence is just the man.”

”Oh, mother!” said Dorothy, springing into her arms, and beginning to laugh and cry at once, yet happier than she had ever been in her life before. ”But if you hadn't told me it couldn't have happened.”

When Mr. Lawrence and father came down together that evening and the whole story was told, Dorothy, to her surprise, found when thinking least about herself she had suddenly become a heroine, even in the eyes of d.i.c.k.

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