“Miss Letty’s,” said Martica Willoughby, “and I should think she would be thankful to drive home, for it was hard enough for us to lead our wheels through all that stubble; but her front tire was so flat she almost had to carry hers.” Miss Letty got into the runabout without more ado, having the tact not to make a fuss, and offer to ride Martica’s wheel. Mr. Hugh bowed pleasantly to Mrs. Carr, who came to the gate, drawing her cloak about her,--the same one that Anne remembered,--and led the way down the lane, crossing the river, which was narrow and swift just there, a couple of hundred feet west of the house. When they reached the highway they held a short consultation, and it was agreed the cyclists should lead home. As they were about to start Anne cried, “Look!” and waved her handkerchief toward the rising ground around which the lane had curved. There, upon the stubbly hillside, with her crutch before her and Laddie by her side, sat Mrs. Carr, watching them on their way, her witchlike hood pointing toward the sky, but a weary sort of smile upon her wan face, while behind her, against the distant horizon, was the dead tree still in front of them. “I wish you would have that old tree cut down, Mr. Hugh,” laughed Anne over her shoulder, as she shot ahead; “it’s in the middle of everywhere, and like Robin Hood’s barn, you go round and round it, but you never get there.” * * * * * Mr. Hugh and his companion drove along for a while in silence, then Miss Letty, forgetting herself, said half aloud, “I wonder what led you into that lane?” “Geese,” said Mr. Hugh, at which astonishing remark they both laughed, and the ice began to melt as he explained it by saying that as he was hurrying along the highway, a flock of geese suddenly waddled across the road a few feet ahead with much hissing and flapping of wings, whereat Artful, his horse, being full of good spirits and oats, shied to the right, and made a bolt down the lane, which his driver had not even noticed. Being once there he recognized it as the north boundary of his new land, forgot that it did not run from road to road, remembered the old house which he thought empty, and took the stray chance of the girls having taken a short cut. “All of which proves that accidents are sometimes lucky things,” he added. “I wish my accident might bring some luck to Mrs. Carr,” said Miss Letty, simply, and then she told the story of the afternoon, her musical voice giving it pathos, and as she wholly forgot herself, a little foreign accent crept in her speech that made it more appealing. “I certainly won’t turn her out, I give you my word for that,” said Mr. Hugh, earnestly, “I’ve tried time and again to see her. How can we handle her? Her pride and the old tea caddy will not feed and clothe her, and the house is only fit for bats.” Mr. Hugh had a warm heart, but he was very practical.