“Therefore, I must go to Washington as soon as possible. As you and Mr. Stone have been my invaluable counselors and co-laborers in the work here, so will Lawyer Merritt and Dr. Washburn be my advisers and assistants in my work there. So that in the course of four or five weeks I hope to get the free sanitorium in good working order, with a resident physician, a competent matron, and a staff of skilful nurses and servants. Later you may safely leave the parish and the school in the able hands of Mr. Stone, and join me in Washington in time for our voyage. How do you feel about that voyage, dear Dr. Shaw?” Roma inquired, with interest. “Like a schoolboy going on a holiday, my dear,” the old minister exclaimed. “There are so many elements of pure pleasure in it. We leave no family ties behind to tear at our heartstrings, and we go to no strangers, but to dear, old, lifelong friends. It will be a glorious holiday, please the Lord!” He had not come to stay this day, for he had other and pressing engagements in his parish. So he soon arose and bade Miss Fronde good-by. Dr. Shaw’s gig had scarcely disappeared when a peddler’s cart, driving leisurely up the avenue, came in sight. The peddler on the seat was no other than Hanson’s disguised detective. Puck, as was his custom, ran from his work on the lawn to take the horse’s head as the peddler stepped down from his seat. “I wish to see the lady of the house,” said the stranger. “Dat’s her, den; dat’s our youn’ mist’ess a-sittin’ on dat dere yockin-cha’ on de po’ch,” said Puck, as he tied the horse to a tree. The man went up the steps, took off his hat, and said: “Excuse me, ma’am; I have a fine assortment of fancy and useful goods in my cart. May I have the pleasure of showing them to you?” Roma was invariably kind to “all sorts and conditions” of fellow creatures. In every man, woman and child who approached her she recognized a neighbor. No peddler, book agent, or even “lightning-rod man,” was ever turned away empty handed. Each was trying to make an honest living, and must be encouraged, she said to herself and her friends. So to this peddler she said: “Certainly. Perhaps I or my people would like to buy something.” And she called Puck, and told him to bring Nace, Hera and the children, and to find Pontius Pilate and Ceres. The young man ran off and summoned the whole household, who soon crowded on the lawn in front of the piazza. Meanwhile, the peddler brought many paper boxes from his cart and laid them on the floor. One, however, he opened, and laid on a chair before Miss Fronde. This was filled with fine laces, fichus and pocket handkerchiefs, in smaller, separate boxes. “Yes,” said Miss Fronde, “these are certainly very pretty. I will take some of them. Now show my people something that will please them—in bright colors.”