They went down to the shore to meet Nan's chum. Bess rushed up to them and threw herself into Nan's arms.
"Guess! Guess what's happened, Nan Sherwood!" she fairly shrieked.
"I--I couldn't," gasped Nan, actually turning pale.
"You've got to! You've got to guess! It's the very wonderfulest thing----"
"'Wonderfulest'?" murmured "Procrastination Boggs." "That's a new one. I'm going to look it up."
"I couldn't guess, Bess," said Nan again, weakly.
"You haven't got to leave Lakeview Hall!" cried the delighted Bess. "You are coming back next term!"
Nan's color came back. She sighed and wiped her eyes. But she shook her head slowly. "No, dear, I told you before I could not accept your father's help. It would not be right," said Nan.
"Oh, nonsense! Who said anything about that?" demanded Bess, in disgust. "I heard 'em talking about it! Things are all right! Your folks have got some money after all! And they sent me after you!"
"Who sent you after me?" suddenly cried Nan, seizing the reckless and excited Bess by the shoulders.
"What for?" demanded Nan, exasperated, and fairly shaking her.
"Why----Oh! didn't I tell you? Nan _dear_! Your father! And your mother! They have just arrived from Scotland, and they are waiting for you now in Dr. Beulah's office!"
Joy never kills--that is sure. But when she was folded in "Momsey's" arms, and "Papa Sherwood" stood by waiting his turn to hug his plucky little daughter, Nan really thought her heart would burst, it beat so hard.
It was not until later that she heard about the money, or cared to ask about it. Her parents had settled their business in Scotland so suddenly and had left for the United States so hurriedly, that they could send no further news about the settlement of Hughie Blake's legacy.
Under the Scotch law, no matter how many times a man has been married or how many children he has, he can will his personal property as he pleases. The two women who claimed the Laird of Emberon's steward as their parent could fight in the courts for possession of his real estate only; and most of the wealth Hughie Blake had amassed was in cash-in-bank.
Therefore Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood came home amply supplied with funds and the possibility of poverty for the family retreated below the horizon for the time being, at least.