"No, Dear; he left Tarrytown before we ourselves knew. We received a telegram from Horace saying he had come on to Ithaca. We must wait here; for he'll arrive sometime tonight. We couldn't go and allow him to find this place empty." "Of course not," the girl sighed impatiently. "Oh, I hope he comes soon!" Her soul burned for a sight of him. He had been the first to fly to her rescue, even when he had thought her but a squatter girl. He had not shrunk from the dangers of the settlement, and, in spite of the peril of Lem and Lon, he had been willing to drag her away from harm for the love of her. The thought was infinitely sweet. At length Ann brought her to the present. "Fledra dear, can you realize that little Mildred is your own sister, and that Mildred's mother is yours? Oh, Darling, you ought to be the happiest girl in the world!" "I'm happy, all right," said Fledra gravely; "only, I feel sorry for Katherine. Somehow, we changed Daddies, didn't we?" "Yes, Dear, and I feel for her too," lamented Ann. "I can't see how she's going to bear it." "Maybe she's been a praying," said Fledra, "as I did when I thought I was coming to Lem. It does help a lot." "Dear child, dear heart," murmured Ann, "your faith is greater than mine! Katherine Vandecar is a saint, and--and so are you, Fledra." "No, I'm not." The girl dropped her eyes and flushed deeply. "Oh, but Fledra, you are!" Then a new thought entered Ann's mind, and she hesitated before she continued. "Fledra, will you tell me something about Mr. Brimbecomb? I mean--you know--the trouble you spoke of in your letter to him?" Fledra flashed a startled glance. "Did he dare show it to you?" "No, no, Fledra; he dropped it, and Horace found it." "Is that the way you knew where I'd gone?" "Yes, and on account of it Floyd went to the governor's house." "Oh, why did you let Floyd go out? He is so ill!" Her eyes were reproachful. Ann, with a smile, kissed the girl. "Dear, unselfish child," said she, "don't you understand that, if he hadn't gone, you wouldn't have your strong, big father, nor would little Floyd be now with his mother?" "Maybe our mother'll make Floyd well," cried Fledra. "Oh, she couldn't help but love him, could she, Sister Ann?" "And it will be impossible for her not to love you, Deary," exclaimed Ann, wiping her eyes. "But now you must dress. Have you still the clothes you wore away from home?" "Yes, I have them; but they're all mussed. I fell in the lake, and got them all wet, and they're wrinkled now. They're up in the loft. Wait--I'll get them." She was scrambling up the ladder as she spoke, and her last words were uttered in the darkness of the loft. Ann could hear the girl moving about overhead, and heard the dragging of a box across the floor. Then another sound broke upon her ears, and before she could move toward the door it opened, and a shabby, one-armed man shuffled in, followed by Everett Brimbecomb. * * * * *