"Surely now we are free!" cried Cæsar so soon as the magistrate had finished reading the note.
"Yes, my child, you are free," was the kindly response. "But it will be necessary for you to remain here for some time yet, because your sister is not even convalescent, and her recovery may take a long time."
"That is so, sir," Cæsar returned. "But Abel and I will try to get work in the neighborhood so that we may provide for ourselves and our animals, and not be beholden to any one."
"You are a brave manly boy!" said the magistrate, clapping him upon the shoulders, "and I will interest myself in obtaining employment for you. I will guarantee your good character."
Thus matters went on until the middle of November. By that time, although she had not by any means regained her full strength, Nadine was so determined to have her own way that the doctor, having given her a thousand injunctions to be very careful of herself, permitted her to return to the van.
The three Tambys were then very happy at being reunited, and in cherishing the hope that ere long they would have their sister restored to them.
Alas, the poor young things had not yet drunk to the dregs the bitter cup of trial that had been thrust upon them, for now Nalla began to be a source of anxiety. He spent much of the time lying down and refused to do his work. For long periods he would remain motionless, taking no interest in anything except the voices of passing children, at which sound he would suddenly raise his head, and would follow the children as far as he could with his small bright eyes, while he uttered groans like those he was wont to give forth when playing with little Lydia.
Nadine and Cæsar had no difficulty in deciding what was the matter with him. He was mourning for his beloved little playmate who had so strangely disappeared.