until close to us. Under the gaslight I waited, not knowing why, and
Bettina being behind me, he thought I was alone when presently he saw
me.

"Dandridge!" He stared as if stupefied with amazement. Lifting his
hat mechanically, he came closer. "What in the name of Heaven are
you doing here alone this time of night? Are you losing your mind?"

His entire absence of embarrassment, his usual disapproval of my
behavior, his impatient anger, had an unlooked-for effect, and sudden
relief and hot joy so surged over me that I laughed, a queer,
nervous, choking little laugh.

"I am not alone. It is not yet six, and I have been to see a boy who
is what you are not--the head of a house. I mean a house with a
family in it. Have you, too, been visiting?"

His face flushed, and frowningly he turned away. "I had business
down here. I had to come to it as it could not be brought to me.
Where are you going?"

"Home."

Bettina, who in some unaccountable way had managed to stay behind me,
came forward and bowed as if to an audience. "I've been taking her
to where she goes, Mr. Thorne, and grannie knows all the places.
There ain't one that's got a disease in it, and Mr. Crimm would tell
us if it wasn't right to go to them. She don't ever go anywhere by
herself. She's too new yet."