Is there anything in the world more difficult to represent with its dignity, grace and beneficence than a tree?
At this instant Tory certainly was convinced there was not.
Half unconsciously her pencil began indicating the figure of a girl in various attitudes.
For years, whenever left to her own devices, Tory had amused herself in this fashion. However crude her drawings of human figures, since she was a tiny girl they had in them a suggestion of life and action.
A noise, apparently coming from behind a clump of bushes not far off, distracted the artist's attention.
Beyond the bushes she thought she beheld some one move.
From farther away Martha and Edith halloed in Girl Scout fashion.
Again Tory returned to her work, having now acquired the impression that she was no longer alone.
A figure behind the clump of shrubs undoubtedly stirred.
She had not moved more than a few feet when the intruder, aware of discovery, came toward her.
A small figure Tory beheld dressed in a pale green linen frock, crumpled and torn. The large leghorn hat had a band of green velvet ribbon encircling it. In one hand she bore a small yellow leather suit case.
"Why, Lucy, what in the world does this mean? Are you by yourself? Do Mr. or Mrs. Hammond know where you are?"
"No, you may tell them," the little girl answered calmly. "I am on my way to Kara. I am going to take her back to the Gray House or somewhere else, where we can be alone. I hated Kara sitting still in a chair and never moving and all of you keeping me from her."
"Then you do care for Kara?" Tory demanded, putting her arms about the picturesque little figure.
"Care? What do you mean? Do you mean do I love Kara? Why, I don't really like anyone else very well except Kara and perhaps Billy and now Mr. and Mrs. Hammond. Mrs. Hammond says I must be more devoted to her than any one else, but I'm not truly, now that I know Kara is ill."
"You have run away, haven't you, Lucy? I am sure I don't know how you ever got this far without some one stealing you. You are the most delightful looking child I ever beheld. Come and sit down for awhile and rest and eat some sandwiches. I know you ran away before breakfast and must be hungry and tired. Afterwards I'll take you to Kara."