But Dorothy had "anticipated" Tavia's visit and was at the door before the latter had entirely cleared away the table. "Why!" exclaimed Dorothy, when her eyes rested on the flowers, "you are celebrating!" "Good reason why!" responded Tavia proudly, "my dad's a squire!" "I am so glad," murmured Dorothy, giving Tavia a kiss. "Now you will be somebody, won't you?" "I am already--somebody else. You won't know me; better ask for an introduction," and she walked haughtily to the sink with the last of the dishes. "Delighted, I'm sure!" simpered Dorothy, imitating the society voice. "Pray be seated," went on the new Tavia, "I'll be disengaged directly." Tavia's happiness was so entirely self-evident there was no need for her to make formal expression of it to Dorothy, yet, as she had promised herself to be "just like other girls" Tavia felt the obligation to say something polite. "I know, Dorothy," she began, "we owe everything to you. But it has really made a new world for us, and now, you will see how we appreciate it. I am going to get through school, if I can, and perhaps, when we get better off, I may go on with you at school and grow up--like you." "Tavia dear," said Dorothy earnestly, "I am sure you will always be my friend, whether you have a fancy education or not. We have learned more than can be taught from books--we have learned to help each other, and to understand each other." "Yes, I cannot imagine anything ever coming into our lives that would keep us apart--even distance does not separate minds and hearts." Tavia had finished her work now, and surprised Dorothy by neatly washing out the dish towels. Dorothy was ready to go now for it was getting close to the hour for school. "I must tell you something in confidence," said she, "father thinks he has a clew to the little Burlock girl's whereabouts." "Yes, and I thought the same thing when what do you suppose?--Aunt Mary writes me that the woman--Mrs. Burlock--is dead!" "Dead!" exclaimed Dorothy. "Yes, and the society cannot now find her girl--she did have a daughter." "But surely, in a place like Rochester, they should be able to trace a little girl," Dorothy insisted. "They should be, but they were not. Aunt Mary wrote that the charitable society had buried the woman, and when a young lady from the organization went back to the rooms with the little girl she allowed her to escape. That is, the young lady went out to buy something and when she came back the girl was gone." "Did she run away?" "Haven't the least idea. But say, Doro, we will be late, sure pop, and me putting on airs this morning. Quarter of nine. Now let's see if we can beat last night's record. I'll set the pace," and so saying the girls started off on a run, for it was most desirable that they reach the school a few minutes, at least, before the bell rang. Dorothy insisted Tavia should go straight to Miss Ellis and tell her how she was so anxious to keep up with her class.