“Then she can stay,” said Lanty heart-brokenly. “If she has the heart to hold out now she can stay; can I come home with you, Vashti?”
“Yes, of course,” said Vashti. “I’ll call Sidney, and you go home with him. I’ll explain to everybody that you are all right. You had better go and not get them all asking questions.”
So she brought Sidney, and the two men went away together. As they turned their backs upon the scene there came a terrible crash. They turned and looked.
The roof-tree of Lanty’s home had fallen in. He resumed his way with tears brimming his eyes.
Vashti no sooner saw them depart than she hastened over to the group about Mabella. Temperance was holding her in her arms.
As Vashti approached, the group gave way a little.
Mabella looked up.
“What did Lanty say?” she asked eagerly. “Is he ever going to forgive me?”
Vashti answered softly and with seeming hesitation, “Don’t take on too hard, Mabella, but he has gone home with Sidney.”