“She _is_, and just as soon as this Manor of the Wilderness came into her possession through the death of her relative, old Mr. Elphine, don’t you see, she thought of us at once? Yes, and through Dr. and Mrs. Willet she managed to get us all out here without appearing to have anything to do with it.” “Well,” said John meditatively, “I often wondered how such a thundering great piece of good fortune ever did come to us, who wa’n’t much blessed with rich friends! And now I know. But why should the lady wish to keep her existence a secret?” “Oh, John! you are a man, or you never could have asked that question! Do you think she could ever get over the cruel wrong that was done her, innocent as she was? Why, even the poor wounded dove goes away and hides itself from all eyes to die. She was wounded to the very death, and yet she could not die, and she would not kill herself; but she went away and hid herself—innocent as an angel though she was!” answered Susan with emotion. “I’d faced it out if I’d been her!” “Of course you would; but you wa’n’t her! And now, John Palmer, do you listen to me,” said Susan solemnly. “Nobody but you and me, in this neighborhood, knows anything about the awful affliction that drove this innocent lady into the wilderness. And we must be cautious! We must never speak of her even to each other, unless we find ourselves in a boat in the middle of the river, as the only place where we can be quite sure of not being overheard.” “But—how on earth did you find all this out?” inquired John, scratching his head. “I will tell you all about it,” said Susan. And she forthwith gave him a detailed account of Em.’s visit to the isle, her unexpected meeting with the Lady of Edengarden and the ensuing interview between them, during which the lady had revealed herself to the girl and sent messages to the parents requesting the latter to visit her at Edengarden. While Susan eagerly narrated and John earnestly listened Em. steered the boat as it floated slowly down stream. “Now what do you think of that?” said Susan when she had finished her story. John did not know what he thought, and so he could not tell her. “Why don’t you speak?” demanded Susan. John had nothing new to say, so he said: “‘Sich is life!’” And he took up both oars and laid himself to them with such vigor that the boat soon cleared the intervening water and grounded on the sands at the landing of Edengarden Island. “Now you two just walk up to the house. I’ll stay here with the boat until you come back,” said John Palmer as he helped his wife and daughter to land. “Now, John, I do think that is too queer of you! Why can’t you walk up with us when the lady sent you an invitation to come, too?” exclaimed Susan, with an injured air.