"Well, Ellen," said her uncle, "I am very glad to see you. But I am sorry to hear about poor Rodolphus." "Yes," said Ellen, "but I have thought of one more plan. It's of no use to keep him from going to the state prison, even if we could, unless we can get a good place for him. Now what I wish is, that if we can get him free, you would let him come and live here with you. Perhaps you could make him a good boy." Mr. Randon leaned upon the handle of his broad ax, and seemed to be at a loss what to say. He looked toward his wife. "Yes," said she, "let him come. I should like to have him come very much. _We_ can make him a good boy." "Well," said Mr. Randon. "Well!" said Ellen. Her eyes brightened up as she said this, and she turned to go away. Mr. and Mrs. Randon attempted to stop her, but she said that she could not stay then, and so she went away. "She can not _get_ him free," said Mr. Randon. "I don't know," said his wife. "Perhaps she may. Such a girl as she can do a great deal when she tries." Ellen went then as fast as she could go, to Mrs Henry's. She found Antonio in the garden. "Antonio," said she, "my uncle Randon says that he will take Rodolphus and let him live there with him, on the farm, if we can only get him out of prison." "But we can't get him out of prison," said Antonio. "It is too late now, he has been condemned and sentenced." "But the governor can pardon him," said Ellen. "Can he?" said Antonio. "Yes," said Ellen. "Can he?" repeated Antonio. "Then I'll go and see if he _will_." Two days after this Antonio was on his way to the town where the governor lived. He met with various adventures on his way, and he felt great solicitude and doubt about the result of the journey. At last he arrived at the place. He was directed to a large and handsome house, which stood in the centre of the principal street of the village, enveloped in trees and shrubbery. There was a beautiful yard, with a great gate leading to it, on one side of the house. Antonio looked up this yard and saw an elderly gentleman there, just getting into a chaise. A person who seemed to be his hired man was holding the horse. The gentlemen stopped, with his foot upon the step of the chaise, when he saw Antonio coming, and looked toward him. [Illustration: THE GOVERNOR.] "Is this Governor Dummer?" said Antonio, as he came up. "Yes," said the gentleman, "that is what they call me." "I wanted to see you about some business," said Antonio, "but you are going away." The governor looked at Antonio a moment, and, being pleased with his appearance, he said, "Yes, I am going away, but not far. Get into the chaise with me, and we can talk as we ride." So the governor got into the chaise. Antonio followed him; the hired man let go of the horse's head, and Antonio and the governor rode together out of the yard.