“But if you were offered a fair price for it you would not refuse?” persisted Dorothy.

“No, I’d take most anything from a cream soda to a twenty-five cent piece.”

“Well, my dear, now compose yourself.  Get a good hold on the chair near you, or better still sit down, since you insist on getting out of bed.  I have a very lively piece of news for you—­the sensational kind.”

“Let her go,” called Tavia grasping the chair with both hands.

“It is this.  Aunt Winnie says you will undoubtedly received damages for the accident.  She says Mr. French is a noted lawyer and he will possibly arrange it so that all you will have to do is to put your name to the signing-off paper.  The fact that you lighted the lamp, auntie says, will not do away with the fact that a careless employee left that explosive there.”

“Do you know, Dorothy,” said Tavia in her most serious tone, “the only thing that has consoled me for asking that baby in there is, that she told me she was going in for a drink of water, and had she done so she would, or at least might, have tasted the poison stuff.  She was the most meddlesome child and might have killed herself.”

“Certainly her mother would have allowed her to roam about as she pleased,” said Dorothy, “for people told me after the accident that little Lily had been in almost every seat in the car, while her mother curled herself up on that sofa.  It is a strange thing to me that most women travelers are more careful of their dogs than of their babies.  Did you notice that blonde with the soft leather bag?  Well, she had a poodle in that bag, it is against the rules, you know, to keep animals in the passenger cars, but that lady had her bag open on the seat, and every time a brakeman came through she would pull the string and close the bag.  Then once in a while she would let the dog run around a bit.  But indeed she did not let it get away like Lily’s mother let her go.”

“And do you really think the railroad people will pay me damages?”

“I am almost sure of it.  Aunt Winnie is a very clever business woman, and if they come while we are here it will be all the better for you.  Just think!  Suppose they should offer five hundred dollars!”

“I am too poor to be able to think of five hundred dollars all at once.  I will have to try it on the installment plan.  But wouldn’t it be jolly if I did get a good sum,” and Tavia’s eyes took on a far-away look—­ perhaps all the way to Dalton and happiness.

CHAPTER XXII

THE PRICE OF TAVIA’S TRESSES

A week had passed at North Birchland, with Dorothy and Tavia enjoying every succeeding hour better than the last, when the expected lawyers arrived to interview the victim of the railroad fire.

Fortunately Mrs. White was at home, and more fortunately still was the arrival of Mr. French with the strange lawyer.