With a promise to be back again in the evening Tavia left Dorothy and
hurried across the fields to her home.

"Things seem to be straightening out," thought Dorothy. "Every thing is
all right at school, Tavia is back, now if Sarah would only tell--I have
a good mind to run over to see her."

It was a warm afternoon and Dorothy had no need to bother with wraps.
Aunt Libby was at the side porch so that in passing Dorothy called to
her she would be back in a short time, then she crossed through the
orchard, going under the very tree in the shade of which Sarah had been
found suffering. Dorothy stopped and looked up into the branches. They
were very low, some of them, so low that in fruit time girls could pick
the apples without climbing for them.

The blossoms were almost gone. Small sprays lay faded on the grass where
careless hands had scattered them.

Somehow, it seemed to Dorothy that the tree knew all about the accident;
if trees could only talk, she thought. Then, picking up a spray of the
freshest blossoms, she hurried on.

To Dorothy's surprise Mrs. Ford was very cordial in her welcome. Dorothy
had feared the mother of the injured girl might not be so pleased to see
her.

"Walk right in," said Mrs. Ford, opening the door. "I am sure it will do
Sarah good to talk with you. She is so lonesome and talks in her sleep
about the girls," and she led the way to her daughter's room.