The noise of the opening door roused the girl. She sat up, stared in a
dazed way at her mother an instant, then threw off the coverings and
sprang out of bed.
"I've been asleep; Mr. Westerfelt! Oh, mother, why did you let me--"
"He's all right!" interrupted Mrs. Floyd. "They didn't touch a hair of
his head." Harriet stared open-mouthed.
"He's back safe and sound," went on Mrs. Floyd; "he proved himself
innocent and they let 'im go."
"Oh, mother, mother!" Harriet put her arms round the old woman's neck
and clung to her. "Thank God! Oh, mother, thank God--thank God!"
Then she sat down in a chair and began hastily to put on her shoes.
"What are you going to do?"
"Going to see him."
"Not now; why--"
"I _will_ see him. Let me alone; don't try to stop me!"
"You surely would not go to the stable! He--"
"I'd go anywhere to see him. I don't care what people say; I'm going
to see him."
As Harriet bent to fasten her shoes, Mrs. Floyd touched her.
"Daughter, are you engaged to Mr. Westerfelt?"
Harriet did not look up. She still bent over her shoes, but the
strings lay motionless in her fingers.
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