“Oh, yes,” and Betty fixed her eyes thoughtfully upon the ground.  “I have been thinking about that.  But do you think I should use that money on myself?”

“Why, certainly; what else should you do with it?”

“But Mr. Jasper will need it, will he not?”

“In what way?”

“Won’t he need a lawyer to help him?  I know it costs so much to get a lawyer for mother has told me so.  We must do all we can to save him.”

A mistiness came into Lois’ eyes as Betty uttered these words.  She suddenly stopped, put her arms lovingly around the girl, and tenderly kissed her.

“You precious dear,” she cried.  “How sweet it is of you to think of him, and I am most grateful to you.  But I do not think you need worry about paying the lawyer.  I am sure Mr. Westcote will look after that.”

“Oh, do you think he will?” and the girl breathed a sigh of relief.  Then her face clouded, and that worried expression again came into her eyes.

“What will they do with Mr. Jasper?” she enquired.

“I can’t say,” was the low reply.

“Will they keep him in prison a long time, or will they——?”

“Don’t say that word!” Lois cried, clutching Betty firmly by the arm.  “I know what you were going to say, and I can’t bear to hear it.”

They were walking slowly now along the narrow path, bordered by waving grass.  Birds sang in the trees to their left and butterflies flitted here and there over the broad fields.  It was a scene of peace and contentment.  Nature was in her most attractive mood and seemed to care nothing for the cares of struggling humanity.  At any other time Lois would have rejoiced in the beauty around her and would have revelled in the glory of earth and sky.  But now it was otherwise.  How could she be happy when her heart was so heavy?  She knew the cause, and she was not ashamed to confess it to herself.  In fact, it brought a slight ray of comfort to feel that she was suffering with him.

They had almost reached the house when a boy was seen approaching.  He carried a note in his hand, which he gave at once to Lois.

“It’s from Mr. Forbes,” he explained, “and he told me to hustle, and take an answer back as quick as I can.”

Lois read the note, which simply stated that she was wanted at the telephone.

“Tell Mr. Forbes that I shall be there shortly,” she told the boy, at the same time handing him a coin for his trouble in carrying the message.

Hurrying into the house in order to leave word with the maid where she was going in case any one should call, Lois started with Betty for the store.  There was no more loitering now as she was anxious to learn who wanted her on the phone.  It was rarely that any one called her up, and she was hoping that it might be Margaret to tell her that she was coming back that evening.

On their way they came to the grove at the top of the hill not far from the Haven.  Here Betty stopped, and stood as if hesitating what to do.