She had not noticed when she lay down that the long, red rays of the sun were very low. The excitement through which she had lived, the lack of food, the unusual exertion and the sudden release from the necessity of doing anything, made her stupid with weariness. The sun slipped quickly down, and the cool darkness of the garden soothed her. A tiny breeze gave her new life, and she slept as sweetly as the sleeping birds in the trees over her head, while the kind stars looked down and kept watch, and the roses nestled close and spoke of him she loved. In the village, pestilence stalked abroad and the shadow of death hovered, but in the garden there were quiet and peace and rest. And if the languid winds played a solemn dirge among the pines near the old house, they disturbed her not, safe sheltered among God’s flowers with others of his beautiful, dependent creatures. CHAPTER XXVII Charles and Dan had stayed in Albany several days, questioning coach drivers and making enquiries at all the inns; but no one seemed to remember Dawn. It happened that the driver with whom she had left Albany had broken his leg the very day after, so he was not there to be questioned. Heartsick and despairing, the two young men did not know what to do. Even Rags was dejected, and whined at having to leave the boat. Somehow he seemed to think it would bring them to her if they but stayed by it long enough. He was for going back to New York when the boat went, and told the others so with a wise bark, but they heeded him not. He went about snuffing helplessly, and spent much time with his nose in his paws, one sad blinking eye open to a disappointing world. They reached the Winthrop home a few hours before Mrs. Van Rensselaer’s letter arrived. It was Betty who brought the strange, scrawled letter to Charles, and she wore an anxious look. She had half-hesitated whether she would not keep it till morning, he looked so tired and worn. These were troublous times, and no one knew at night but that his dearest friend might be dead by morning. Betty would have spared her brother if she had dared. Charles noticed the postmark, and tore the envelope open quickly, some premonition quickening his heart-beats. "Dawn is here!" He read the significant words, then repeated them aloud, his voice containing a solemn ring of wonder and joy. Could it be true? "Betty, tell the boy to saddle two horses and have them ready at once. Dan, you’ll go with me, of course.... No, I’ve no time for supper.... Well, just a cup of hot broth. Or, stay, put some in a bottle, and I’ll take it with me. I might need it on the way.... Are you ready, Dan? ... Tell father, Betty. I’ll be downstairs in just a minute."