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So James hurried the horses on, and as soon as they came in sight of the maids Mrs. Grey held Linda up so that she might be seen.

You may imagine how surprised they were to see the child seated in a stranger’s carriage, and driving comfortably home.

But they were glad enough to see the little girl back again, you may be sure, for they had been in a terrible fright about her. Mrs. Grey said she was going to call upon Mrs. Forest very soon, but that she would not stop now; so bidding Linda good-bye, and telling her she must come over soon, and play with the children, she drove away.

Uncle Dick came that night to tea, and you may be sure Alice was delighted to see him. She had enough to talk about, for it seemed to her that a great deal had happened since she saw him last.

At eight o’clock Alice bade the family good night, and went up to bed.

It seemed to her that she had been in bed for not more than half an hour when, upon opening her eyes, she saw that the sun was beginning to come into her room. “Oh, dear; I suppose I ought to get up,” she said.

So Alice sat up in bed, and took her pillow in her hands. As she did so she heard something rattle, and, upon looking closely to see what it could be, she espied a letter directed to “Miss Alice Grey.”

“What in the world can that be,” said Alice, looking at it attentively. “I will open it, and see what is inside.”

So she broke the seal and took out a letter which was folded carefully within. This she opened and imagine her astonishment, when out rolled a ten-dollar bill.

All sleepiness left her eyes as she began to read her letter.

“Dear Alice: I shall not see you again probably, for some time, as we start off again to-morrow morning; but although neither Mr. Cushman nor I can be at the fair on Saturday, we wish to make a contribution to this good cause. Will you please accept ten dollars for us, and buy whatever you think is best for your protégée? So good-bye, my dear little girl. With our best wishes for your success, I remain your affectionate

Uncle Dick.”

Alice could not sleep any more that morning. Instead of dreading to get up she now only longed for the time when she could dress herself, and run over to tell Susy the delightful news.

So she lay in bed waiting for the clock to strike six. “I will get up then, certainly,” she said; “but I wish it would be seven. I hate to be up so long before breakfast.”