Dorothea nodded as if she understood. She did not dare to speak for fear of betraying the skepticism she felt at this explanation of April’s presence in the woods. “I must hurry on,” she said, taking a step forward, “or Harriot will be coming to find me. Hope you have a nice walk.” And off she ran, leaving her cousin gazing after her for a moment or two. “It was a blue uniform I saw, after all!” April said to herself as she walked on again. CHAPTER XXII BY GRAPEVINE TELEGRAPH As Dorothea had expected, she found Harriot waiting for her and forestalled any questions by setting her cousin’s thoughts upon the two portions of dessert that were in store for her. “You win!” she cried as soon as she was within speaking distance. “I only hope you don’t make yourself sick eating too many sweet things.” “Huh!” Harriot expostulated, forgetting how long she had been waiting for Dorothea and her speculations upon the cause of the delay. “Somebody is always telling me that, and it doesn’t do the slightest good.” They argued the matter at length, and Dorothea thus avoided an explanation she was by no means ready to give. But it was with some difficulty that she kept her thoughts upon the conversation she herself had started, for her mind dwelt constantly on the problems she had yet to meet. It would not be any too easy for her to go back to Lee Hendon unobserved, and she felt that there was great need of his getting away as soon as possible. April’s sudden appearance on the scene seemed to indicate a knowledge of her lover’s presence there. Dorothea was not inclined to accept the fact that her cousin’s arrival was purely accidental and was of the opinion that the two she had left might even now be talking to each other, yet in that case assistance from her seemed superfluous. Altogether it remained a puzzle. When they reached the house Merry was there to meet them. “Please, Miss Dee,” said the girl, “Marse Hal, he’s a grievin’ foh yoh, and Ol’ Miss she says will yoh jes’ look in on him a minute and see if yoh can quieten him down lak? She’s dressin’ and wants Lil’ Marse to go to sleep.” Dorothea went directly to Hal’s room and knocked at the door. Big Jim opened it with a finger on his lips to enjoin silence; but, seeing who it was, he stepped aside, and she went in quickly. “I’m glad to see you, Dorothea,” Hal said in a whisper; but in his searching eyes she read the question he was so anxious to have answered. She leaned over the bed with a word of greeting, patting and adjusting the pillows under his head. “It’s all right,” she whispered. “I’ve seen Lee. I expect to give him some money to-morrow. Then he can get away in a hurry, can’t he?” Hal nodded his head and a smile came over his drawn face. “Good girl,” he murmured. “Now I can go to sleep,” and without another word he turned over on his side and fell into a quiet doze almost as he spoke.