“The beneficent law gives the child to the father,” Mr. Falconer continued.  “The father is now in the city seeking the child.  He has his detectives at work, and I have mine.  In his very camp there is a man in my service.  Fortunately, I out-money him.  Now, my sister knows of Patterson’s being here. (The man’s name is Patterson.) She has grown pitifully nervous, and is full of apprehension.  She is very lonely.  I must get her away from that house, and yet I must keep her here with me:  she has no one else to look to.  I don’t know, Miss Summerhaze, why I should come to you for help when there are hundreds of others here whom I have known so much longer.  I am following an impulse.”

He paused and looked at Susan, as if waiting for her reply.  Happy Susan!  Eager, trembling, her face glowing with a tender enthusiasm, a tearful ecstasy, feeling that it would be sweet to die in the service of this man whom her thoughts had so wronged, she gave her answer:  “I am so glad you have come to me!  Anything on earth I can do to aid you I will do with all my heart—­as for myself.  Let your sister come here if that will suit you.”

It was what he wanted.

“I am sorry I have not made your sister’s acquaintance:  would it be convenient for me to go with you this evening and get acquainted with her?”

“Perfectly convenient, and I should be glad to have you go.”

“I will bring my bonnet and shawl, and we will go at once.”

“If you please.”

Susan quickly crossed the parlor, but stopped at the door:  “Perhaps your sister would feel more secure and more at peace to come to us right away—­to-night.  Sha’n’t I bring her away to-night?”

“It would be a great mercy if you would do so, Miss Summerhaze,” Mr. Falconer replied with an earnest thankfulness in his voice.

“Then please wait a few minutes till I explain things a little to my mother;” and with a quick, light step Susan hurried away.

Great were the surprise and interest awakened in the household by the revelation she made in the next ten minutes.

“Have her come right along to-night, poor thing!” the mother said, overflowing with sympathy.

Gertrude was triumphant.  There was a warm glow on her cheek, and such a happy light in her eyes as Susan afterward remembered with a pang.  “She had better have my room:  it is so much more cheerful than the guest-chamber,” Gertrude said.

Even Brother Tom, though demonstrated to have been on the wrong side, was pleased, for he was good-natured and generous in his light manner.

So Susan went back to Mr. Falconer, feeling that she had wings and could soar to the heavens.  And she was happier yet as she walked that half block, her arm in his, feeling its warmth and strength.  It is all very well to speculate in stocks and to build houses, but for such hearts as Susan’s there is perhaps something better.