She noticed the reservoir, she climbed up and looked in. Like a bed of velvet the dark waters lay quietly before her, and the rough darkness of the surrounding country seemed to warn her to partake of what was within her reach. A great wave of peace welled up in her heart, her weariness disappeared in an exquisite languor, which enwrapped her body and mind. “‘Rest, everlasting rest,’ rang soothingly in my ears,” said Dido, in conclusion, “and with a little cry of joy I went to plunge in”---- “And I saved you from a very rash deed,” broke in Dick. “My poor girl, don’t you know there are hundreds of noble-hearted people in New York who are always ready to help the unfortunate? There is charity and Christianity in some places.” “But they are hard to find,” said the girl, “and they do not exist in so-called benevolent homes.” “Now, I tell you what we will do,” said Dick, cordially, lighting a match and looking at his watch. “We will first try to find something to eat, for I am beastly hungry, and then I will take you to your friend, Maggie Williams, if you will kindly show the way, and we will see what can be done for a young woman who gives up so easily.” To be frank, Richard doubted the girl’s story. Yet he did not want to act hastily in the matter. If the girl had suffered all she said, he felt that not only would he gladly help her, but Penelope would be delighted to make life brighter for the poor victim of fate. So he decided to take her to the home of Margaret Williams, if such a person really existed, and learn from others the true story, if what she had told him should prove to be false. In this Richard showed himself very wise for a young man. If it was really a case of charity no one would be kinder or more liberal, but he doubted. CHAPTER VI. IS THE GIRL HONEST? In a small oyster-house near the Park they found something to eat, and Dick also found that he had saved the life of a remarkably pretty girl. At any other time Dick Treadwell would have scorned to eat dinner--and such a dinner--at such a place. This night he not only ate, but enjoyed it. He never noticed the uninviting appearance of the big, fat German waiter who had, when they first came in, leaned with both hands on the table and said briefly, and with a rising accent, “Beer?” He slapped his dirty towel over the sticky circular spots on the table as Richard ordered dinner from a card that looked as if it had never served any other purpose than that of fly-paper. The waiter went out, after receiving the order, carefully closing the door after him. The room was evidently meant for small parties, for the only thing in it was the table and four chairs. “Don’t you think the room is too warm?” Dick asked, and hardly waiting for his guest’s reply, he got up and opened wide the door.