Teddy’s healthy face turned deadly white; and, although his lips trembled violently, not a word came from between them.  But Mrs. Ginniss, raising hands and eyes to heaven, called down such a shower of blessings from so many and varied sources, in such an inimitable brogue, that the pen refuses to transcribe her rhapsody, as Mrs. Legrange failed to comprehend more than the half of it.

“I am glad you are pleased; and it pleases me as much as it can you,” said she, half frightened at the Celtic vehemence of the other’s manner and language.

“I can’t say what I want to, ma’am,” spoke a low voice beside her; “but if you’ll believe I’m grateful, and wait till some time when I can show it better than I can now-that time will come, if we both live.  And when I’m a man, if she isn’t found first, I’ll go the world round but I’ll find her, and Jovarny too:  I’ll promise that.”

A wan smile played over the lovely face, as Mrs. Legrange, laying her hand upon the boy’s, said kindly,—­

“If she is not found before then, Teddy, I shall not be here to know it.”

Then going to the drawer, still standing open, she said,—­

“May I have some of these little things, Mrs. Ginniss; not all,—­for I know that you love them too,—­but some of them?”

So Mrs. Ginniss made a package of the relics; and Teddy asked and obtained the privilege of carrying it home for his new friend, while James stalked discontentedly behind.

Upon the way, Mrs. Legrange said quietly, “I left a little money in the drawer, Theodore.  It is to buy you some new clothes, and whatever else you and your mother need most.  And I have just thought of something else.  How would your mother like living in the country?”

“Very much, ma’am, I think.  Her father had a farm in Ireland, and she is mighty fond of telling about it.”

“Well, Mr. Legrange has recently made me a present of a nice old farmhouse somewhere in the western part of the State, thinking I might like to go there for a few weeks in the summer.  It is a lovely place, they say; and, if your mother would like it, she might go there and keep the house for me.  A man is going to take care of the farm, and he could board with her.”

“That would be first-rate, ma’am,” said Teddy enthusiastically.  “But you’re doing too much for us entirely.”

“You were kind to her, Teddy; and I cannot do too much for you,” said Mrs. Legrange, lowering her veil.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Welcome home.

“Time they was here, ain’t it, miss?” asked Mehitable Ross, wiping the flour from her bare arms, and coming out upon the step of the door.

“Yes,” said Dora:  “I expect them every moment.  Is tea all ready?”

“All but the short-cakes.  I hain’t put them down to bake yet, because they’re best when they’re first done.  But the cold meat is sliced, and the strawberries dished, and the johnny-cake a-baking.”