As she attempted to rise, Vandecar pushed her gently back into the chair and said: 

“I’m going for her, Beloved, and Horace has already gone—­Wait—­wait!”

Vandecar was at the door in an instant, and when he opened it Ann appeared, leading Floyd by the hand.  Mrs. Vandecar’s eyes fastened themselves upon the boy, and, when Ann pushed him toward her, she rose and held out her arms.

Floyd was taller than she, and he stood considering her calmly, almost critically.  He had been told by Miss Shellington that he would see his mother, and as he looked a hundred things tore through his mind in a single instant.  This little woman, with fluttering white hands extended toward him, was his—­his very own!  He felt suddenly uplifted with a masculine desire to protect her.  She looked so tiny, so frail!  He was filled with strength and power, and so glad was his heart that it sang loudly and thumped until he heard a buzzing behind his ears.  Suddenly he blurted out: 

“I’d a known ye were mine if I’d a met ye any place!”

Governor Vandecar hurriedly left them and telephoned for a special train to take him to Ithaca.  He entered his library and summoned Katherine.  He talked long to her in low tones, and when he had finished he put his arm about the weeping girl and said softly: 

“And you’ll come with us, Katherine, dear, and help me bring back my girl?  I shall ask Ann to go with us.”

“Oh, uncle, dear, you know I will go!  And, oh, how glad I am that you’ve found them!”

“Thank you, child.  Now, if you’ll run away and make the necessary preparations, we’ll start immediately.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

During the days of the passage through the Erie Canal, Fledra had remained on the deck of the scow when it was light.  The spring days were beautiful, too beautiful to be in accord with her sadness.  Yet only when they entered into Cayuga Lake did acute apprehension rise within her.  They were now in familiar waters, and she knew the end would soon come.  At every thought of Lem, Fledra shuddered; for never did his eyes rest upon her, nor did he approach her, but that she felt the terror of his presence—­the sight of him sent a wave of horror through her.  Much as she dreaded the wrath of Cronk, much more did she fear Crabbe’s eyes, when, half-covered with squinting lids, they pierced her like gimlets.  Snatchet was her only comfort, and she lavished infinite affection upon him.  Night crowded the day from over Cayuga, and still Fledra and Snatchet remained in the corner, near the top of the stairs.  The girl watched pensively the lights upon the hills lose their steadiness, as the scow drew farther away from them, until with a final twinkle they disappeared into the darkness behind.  The churning of the tug’s propeller dinned continually in Flea’s ears; but was not loud enough to make inaudible the sound of a footstep.  Lon came to the top of the stairs; but did not speak.  He shuffled to the boat’s bow, and with a mighty voice bawled to Burnes: