"Yes, and he will help you too, Lottie, if you will let him. But you must take up your duties again, you know."
"What? go back to Aunt Emmeline?"
"Yes, I mean just that. I am sure she did not intend to treat you badly. She will tell you so, I have no doubt, some day."
"I don't know about that," said Lottie; "but, I guess I ought to go. But, suppose she will not have me back again; what then?"
"Oh, don't borrow trouble. It will be time enough to think about that when it happens," replied Flora. "But come, it's time we were asleep."
Sleep, however, did not come to Lottie as soon as it did to her friend. Her mind was too busy, turning over the events of the day, and anticipating the possible ones of the morrow. Nevertheless, Lottie was not really a coward, and when she had decided on a certain course, she kept to it, as we have already seen.
CHAPTER XVII.
MORE SURPRISES.
NEXT day, Lottie informed her brother of her decision to return to her aunt, and apologize for her unceremonious departure.
Joel was very glad that she had come to this conclusion of her own free will, for he had feared he might have trouble in bringing her to it. He more than half-suspected that Flora had a good deal to do with his sister's present submissive state, and was accordingly grateful.