Joan accepted this solution, and having arrayed herself frivolously she bought Cuff a most remarkable collar which embarrassed the dog considerably.  In all the changing events of Cuff’s life a collar had not figured, and it was harder to adjust himself to it than to foots of beds and meals served on plates.  However, Cuff rose to the emergency and bore himself with credit.

Twice Cameron came to the hotel; twice he took Joan for a drive—­“It will help you get on your feet,” he explained.

“I—­I don’t quite see how,” she faltered and, as they were driving where once she and Raymond had driven, her eyes were tear-filled.  The old, dangerous, foolish past had a most depressing effect upon her.

At Cameron’s second attempt to put her on her feet he succeeded, for when he paid his third call, a quaint little note greeted him at the office: 

    Thank you—­thank you for all that you have done.  I will explain
    everything soon, in the meantime, morally and physically, I am
    wobbling home.

Cameron’s jaw set as he read.

“I’ll wait,” was what he inwardly swore.  And at that moment he was conscious that, for the first time in his career, a woman had got into his system!

When Joan reached Stone Hedgeton she feared that she and Cuff would have to overcome many obstacles before they reached The Gap, for no one was willing to travel the roads.

“There is holes in the river road mighty nigh a yard deep,” one man confided.  “I ain’t going to risk my hoss, nor my mule, nuther!”

It was the mail man who, at last, solved the problem.  He had a small car whose appearance was disreputable but whose record was marvellous.

“If you-all,” he included Cuff in the general remark, “ain’t sot ’bout reaching The Gap at any ’pinted time, I’ll scrooge you in.  There’s a couple of stops to make, and I reckon I’ll have to dig us-all out of holes now and then—­that shovel ain’t in yo’ way, is it, Miss?” he asked.

For Joan and Cuff were already among the mail bags and merchandise.

“Nothing is in the way!” Joan replied, “and I’ll help you dig us out.”

It was just daylight when they started.

It was past noon when, stiff and rather shaken, Joan scrambled out of the old car and, followed by Cuff, noiselessly made her way over the lawn to Ridge House.

She went lightly up the steps, then stood still.  Doris Fletcher lay sleeping in the full, warm glow.  So quiet was she, so pale and delicate, that for a moment Joan knew a fear that had had its beginning when Patricia passed from life.

The awful uncertainty, the narrow pass over which all travel, were newly realized perils to Joan, and her breath came sharp and quick.

So this was what had happened while she was learning her lessons!  She had not learned alone.

“Oh!  Aunt Dorrie,” she murmured.  “You and I have paid and paid—­but you never held me back!”