"No, no, child," said Mr. Whitney, quickly. "Stay where you are, and take care of the others. Now, then, Jasper, is Jencks ready with the lantern?"
"All right," said Jasper. "Come on."
Polly, longing to fly to the window to watch, at least, the lantern's twinkling light across the lawn, hurried off to comfort Aunt Whitney, who at this new stage in the affairs, was walking her room, biting her lips to keep from screaming the terror that clutched at her heart.
"Oh, Polly!" she cried, "I'm so glad you've come. I should die if left alone here much longer;" her soft hair floated down the white robe, and the blue eyes were filled with tears. "Do tell me, don't you think they will find Percy?"
"Yes, indeed!" declared Polly, cuddling up to the little woman. "Oh,
Auntie! remember when Dicky's leg was broken."
"But this is much worse," said Mrs. Whitney, sobbing, and holding close to Polly's warm hand.
"But we thought he was dead," and Polly gave a little shiver.
"Don't—don't," begged Mrs. Whitney, clasping her hands; "Oh, Polly! don't."
"But he wasn't, you see, Auntie," Polly hurried on, "and so now you know it will come out all right about Per—There! Oh! they've found him!" as a shout from the lawn rang out.
"Do you suppose it, Polly?" cried Mrs. Whitney, breathlessly. "Oh! do run to the window and see!"