“No, but it looked at me as if it wanted to, and I ran until I came to the railway; and after a long time, when it was nearly dark, I saw some red lights coming and heard a noise, and that was the ‘Rover.’  I—­I didn’t like the woods at night, so I went up and shouted and signalled to Dumble, and asked him if he knew anybody who wanted a servant, ’cause I’d left home for good, and wanted a ‘place.’  I didn’t tell him who I was, and I thought he wouldn’t know me.  After he had thought for a minute or two, he said yes, he reckoned he could put me in a good ‘place,’ if I’d come along of him.  So I got up in the carriage—­I had it all to myself—­and oh it was lovely going along in the dark and seeing the fire come out of the funnel!  But,” growing very serious and dignified again, “I consider Dumble the most dishonourable man I ever met, and I’ll never speak to him again—­never; and I’ll have to leave Gorlay ’cause I can’t never meet him again, for he ackshally took me up in his arms when the ‘Rover’ stopped at the wharf, and—­well, I was rather sleepy and I didn’t see where I was going, but of course I trusted him, and when I opened my eyes—­why, I was home!  Oh, I was so angry I didn’t know what to do, and I’m never going to speak to Dumble again.  I hope I never see him.”

The corners of Kitty’s mouth twitched, but she did not dare to laugh.  “I expect he thought he was doing right,” she said excusingly.  “He couldn’t have helped you to run away; he would have been sent to jail.  And oh, Betty, I am so glad you did come home; there is trouble enough without losing you too.  I was so frightened about you all the way down in the train—­”

“Did you get my letter?”

“Yes; it was that that brought me.  I didn’t know anything about Aunt Pike until I got to Gorlay Station.”

Betty crept over from her window-seat and stood by Kitty as she sat on her little bed.  “Kitty, do you hate me for telling that to Aunt Pike?”

“Hate you!” cried Kitty.  “As though I ever could, dear.  I am sorry she was told—­but—­but I know you couldn’t help it, Bet.  I couldn’t have myself if it had been you, and she had said unkind things about you.”

Then Betty flung her arms about Kitty’s neck and began to sob heavily.  “I do love you so, Kitty!  I do.  I really do.  I think you are the splendidest girl in all the world, and—­and I’ll never do anything to make you sorry any more, if I can help it.”

Kitty held her little sister very tightly to her, and with Betty’s head resting on her breast, and her cheek laid on Betty’s curly head, they talked, but talk too intimate to be repeated.

At last Kitty got up.  “Where’s Tony?” she asked.  “I have to find each of you separately, and it seems as if I shall never see all, I want to stay so long with each.  Betty, where is Tony?  He is all right, isn’t he?”

“Oh yes.  He went to try and make Anna stop screaming, and I think he has done it.  I haven’t heard her for a long time.”