“I am so glad you do not object to the Auxiliary, father,” she said, as he arose to bid her good night.  “Of course I shall never meet another Miles Burlock, and therefore I shall not have to make a personal appeal to any one again,” and she looked sadly into her father’s face.  “Do you think we will ever find little Nellie?”

“Yes, daughter, I feel certain we will soon hear something of the heirs of Miles Burlock.  But there now,” and he kissed her again, “run along to bed.  Your brothers are snoring by this time.”

“Good night, daddy dear,” she said, pressing his cheek lovingly to her own, “I never forget that I am the daughter of a soldier, and that thought, more than anything else—­earthly, takes care of me—­guides me aright, and makes me proud of being Dorothy Dale!”

CHAPTER XII

AN UNPROVOKED ATTACK

The beautiful month of June was jotting down her days with sweetest floral mottoes—­each in its turn paying tribute to the Queen of Months.  Roses had come, daisies were weaving the fields into a cloth of white and gold, the side roads of Dalton were framed with clouds of snowy dogwood, and that “rarest of days” the perfect day in June had come.  And this was to be the picnic day for the girls of Dalton school.

Tavia was over to Dorothy’s house very early.  She wanted to borrow a lunch box, and, incidentally, to hear Dorothy’s opinion of the “glorious dress” from Rochester.

“Isn’t it sweet?” she began pirouetting on the board walk, at the side door of the Dale house, while waiting for Joe to find an empty cracker box for her lunch.

“It is pretty,” agreed Dorothy, examining the dress critically.  “Those pink ribbons are so becoming to you.”

“Cousin Nannie had it made for a party, so it ought to do for a picnic,” Tavia said.  “How do you feel to-day Doro?  I have been thinking you look--sort of ‘peaked’ as Aunt Libby would say.  Have you been worrying about the explanation business?  Because if you feel sensitive about it, just leave it to me.  I am not the least bit bashful, you know.”

“I feel well enough,” Dorothy assured her, “and I haven’t been worrying--about that any way,” and Dorothy smiled to convince her friend that nothing serious was disturbing her peace of mind.

“Well, we assemble at nine you know; check our dinner pails.  Thanks Joe, that will do nicely, and if I have any left I will leave it in the box when I return it.  After a bluff at study, and an exchange of compliments, for my dress particularly (no one else will have anything like this) we will expect to hear something from you, Doro.  Really, this business of making speeches in school is quite an accomplishment.  Had I known that Alice was going to ‘spout’ the way she did that day I left for my vacation—­ahem! you noticed Joe, how I said that?  Well, I should have postponed the trip had I any idea there would be such stunts going on in lady-like society.  But Doro, how is Sarah?  Did you see her yesterday?”