So little Ducky Darling was called in, and the three went into the sitting-room, where Miss Fronde seated herself in her favorite rocker, with her knitting in her hand, and the two children sat side by side on little chairs that had been hunted out of the lumber room in the attic and brought down for their use. Owlet had a primary geography in her hand and Ducky Darling an A B C card between her fingers and her teeth, imbibing letters after her own fashion. Quiet reigned in the little circle. Roma felt strangely tranquilized; Owlet was pleased with her study of continents and oceans; and Ducky Darling was delighted only to be allowed to sit beside the little playmate she loved so well, and who seemed to her like an angel of light and beauty. An hour passed on without interruption, and then the sound of wheels was heard rolling toward the house. “That must be Dr. Shaw,” said Roma, as she left her chair to look from her window. “And yet it cannot be, for it is but ten o’clock, and at this hour he is in the church, engaged in performing that marriage ceremony of which he wrote.” Then a misgiving that the visitor might be Hanson come again, seized her. She was about to leave the room to lock the front door, when she saw the carriage stop, and—Lawyer Merritt get out of it. With a cry of delight she ran to open the door for him in person. “Oh, Mr. Merritt! I thank heaven you have come! Was it an inspiration? What brought you?” she exclaimed, seizing both his hands and dragging him into the drawing-room just as Pompous was strutting majestically up the hall to answer his knock. She drew a big armchair and pushed him into it. “There! Sit down! You must have traveled all night. You must be tired. You shall have a cup of coffee immediately. Pompous!” she cried. “Stop, my dear,” said Mr. Merritt as soon as he could get a chance to speak. “I breakfasted at the Goeberlin House while waiting to get a carriage to bring me here. Had to wait two hours to find one disengaged. There was a wedding on hand, or something. However, I utilized the time by getting a bath and a breakfast, so now, my dear, I am quite comfortable, and entirely at your service. You got my letter?” “Yes, dear friend, and I should have telegraphed for you last night but for ‘sober second thought.’” “If you had your telegram would have missed me. I was on my way here before you could have got my letter.” “Oh! what inspired you to come?” “Intense solicitude on your account. After I had mailed my letter I heard, by the merest accident, that Hanson had started for this place. I determined to follow by the next train, and here I am. I found the fellow’s name on the hotel register at Goeberlin. Of course he has been here?” “Yes; but got no admittance.” “The insolence of the scoundrel! What do you propose to do, my child?” “I sent a message yesterday to my old pastor, Dr. Shaw, to come and advise me. I expect him here between eleven and twelve o’clock.”