All the spring and all the summer long, and on into the fall, and then I gave it up." "Were you alone, auntie?
That is, did nobody help you hunt ?" was Ethelyn's next query; and Richard would have read much hope for him in the eagerness of the eyes, which waited for Aunt Barbara's answer, and which dropped so shyly upon the carpet when Aunt Barbara said, "Alone, child?
No; he did all he could--Richard did--but we could get no clew." Ethelyn could not tell her story until she had been made easy on several important points, and smoothing the folds of Aunt Barbara's dress, and still looking beseechingly into her face, she said, "and Richard hunted, too.

Was he sorry, auntie?
Did he care because I went away ?" "Care?
Of course he did.

It almost broke his heart, and wasted him to a skeleton.

You did wrong, Ethie, to go and stay so long.

Richard did not deserve it." It was the first word of censure Aunt Barbara had uttered, and Ethelyn felt it keenly, as was evinced by her quivering lip and trembling voice, as she said: "Don't auntie, don't you scold me, please.