Once
or twice she got up and looked out of the window. Her girl hostess was
moving across the lawn. She had evidently been feeding the peacocks,
and was now gathering flowers. How pleasant all this wealth and comfort
seemed to Dorothy! And then, by comparison, _she_ was feeling so
miserable!
Everything was quite quiet in the house save for the telephone bell,
which kept sounding in the hall. Then she heard Mr. Lawrence calling
out: "Are you _there_? Look sharp! Yes, to-day. Money down! Do you
understand?" Then he would ring off and call up some one else. Last of
all his voice changed from a business tone to a very friendly one. "Are
you there? What cheer, old chap? _That's_ all right! I'll see you
through. Two o'clock, Holborn Restaurant."
Dorothy could not hear what was said on the other side. How surprised
she would have been if she had known the last conversation was with her
own father!
Then a very kind-looking lady came in and kissed her. "The motor is
round," she said. "I'm so glad to have seen you, dear. We all admire
your father very much."
Dorothy felt bewildered but followed her out, and there was a lovely
motor, and her friend in it!
"You won't faint by the way this time," he said, "eh? Now, if you can
keep your own counsel, little lady, you may hear some good news
to-night."
They were tearing along the level road already, and almost in a flash,
it seemed to Dorothy, they were passing the church of her own village.
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