professional men withdrew their offer to serve either the woman or her
child.




CHAPTER XXI

AT AUNT WINNIE'S


Dorothy had fastened Tavia's hair up under her hat, so that the one long
and uninjured side covered the burnt ends and hid the damage. She looked
like a pretty boy, Dorothy told her, and the red line about her neck was
not noticeable at all, for around the scar Dorothy had pinned her own
white silk handkerchief. Except for a few tell-tale spots of "scorch"
marking the back of her new dress, from her appearance Tavia might never
have been suspected of being the heroine of a railroad accident.

"Oh, there is Aunt Winnie!" exclaimed Dorothy as the train stopped, and
she looked out of the window near the door.

A depot wagon was drawn up to the platform, and in it sat a stylishly
dressed woman.

If Tavia had felt "alarmed at the style" as she afterward told Dorothy,
the moment Mrs. White grasped her hand in welcoming her to Birchland all
nervousness left her, for Mrs. White had an unmistakable way of greeting
her guests--she really was glad to see them. Dorothy climbed up beside
her aunt, while Tavia took the spare seat at front, and it seemed to her