She soon saw that she had no reason to fear, for Owlet was so excessively and even ludicrously careful in handling cups and saucers, etc., that she finished her task without the slightest accident. By the time the tea was ready Harcourt rapped at the door. Owlet flew to open it before Annie could say “Come in.” “Oh, have you found Lady?” she eagerly demanded. Harcourt entered, sat down, took the child on his knees and answered: “I have sent a telegram to that Mr. Merritt you mentioned. Do you know what a telegram is?” Owlet looked at him in grave disapprobation of his impertinence in asking a question that implied her ignorance of such a well-known thing. “Why, of course I do. Lady used to send lots of them. They go like a flash of lightning and come back like another flash of lightning. Puck used to take ’em when he went to the post office, and fetch ’em back when he came home. Oh, I know.” “I think ‘what you do not know is not worth knowing,’ as the saying is,” observed Annie, with a laugh. “Did you get an answer? Oh, tell me quick!” said Owlet. “No answer yet; but I am expecting one.” “Now come and sit down to tea, both of you,” Annie directed, as she placed chairs at the table. “I know, as soon as ever Mr. Merritt gets the message, he will hurry right off and tell Lady, and she will come right away and fetch me home,” Owlet declared, as her friend lifted her up and seated her beside himself at the board. “I think it very likely,” he replied, as he helped the child to a cutlet, while their hostess was pouring out their tea. Soon after they had finished the evening meal Owlet’s eyes began to wink and her head to nod. Harcourt noticed the symptoms of sleepiness, and so he got up and said: “I will bid you good-night,” and stooped and kissed her. “Good-night, sir. And, oh, if Lady comes for me after I have gone to sleep, will you please wake me up?” “Certainly, if she should come.” “You have been very good to me, sir. Lady will thank you, oh, ever so much. And so will Ducky Darling, in her heart, for she don’t know how to talk much, poor little thing.” When Harcourt had left the room the self-reliant child insisted on undressing herself, and was soon in bed and asleep. Then Annie tidied up her room and went and knocked at Harcourt’s door. He came out and followed her to her own room. They took seats at the front window. “You must have some inkling of the little girl’s history yourself, Mr. William,” Annie began. “Why do you think so?” “You knew where to send a telegram.” “Yes, I knew that much, for the child chanced to mention some names of persons and places once familiar to me. Acting on that, I telegraphed Lawyer Merritt. I have had no answer from him yet. If I do not get one to-night, I shall telegraph Dr. Shaw in the morning.” “Who is Dr. Shaw?”