Clematis would have been surprised, if she had seen how glad Mrs. Alder was to know that she was safe.
They sent a message to Miss Rose, and told her that Clematis was found.
Every one was glad. Every one asked how she ever got way up there on Bean Hill, but no one knew.
All this time Clematis was sleeping quietly.
When Mr. Brooks returned, she had not stirred.
He stood and looked at her a long, long time.
When he turned away there were tears in his eyes.
"Poor little elf," he whispered. "She thought I meant just what I said."
He spread some blankets on the floor, and lay down, but he did not go to sleep.
His thoughts went back to a book he had been reading.
It was about Silas Marner, a man who was sad and lonely.
Silas Marner took a little girl into his tiny house to care for, and she made his life happy again.
"Silas Marner did not have so large a home as this," he thought. "But he took good care of the little girl. How happy they were together."
The little face, all wet with tears, came before him again and again.
"I might keep her for a little while, at least," he said to himself. "I will see what Mr. Alder thinks in the morning."
When Mr. Brooks woke in the morning, Clematis was already up. She had washed her face and hands at the spring, near the door, and was sitting on the step.
"Oho, so the little bird woke first, did she?" said Mr. Brooks.
"I was thinking about you last night before I went to sleep. Suppose I should keep you with me for a little while. Do you think you would like that?"
"Oh, I would help like anything," she cried. "You just try me, and see."
"Well, I will talk to Mr. Alder, and perhaps you can stay for a while, at least."
So Mr. Brooks talked with Mr. Alder. Then he wrote to Mrs. Snow.
"I'll wash and wipe all the dishes," she said.
The very first day she broke a cup. Then she cried.
"Dear me, don't feel bad about that. You are doing the best you can, I know."
Mr. Brooks laughed, and Clematis smiled again.
"Men don't care so much about dishes," she said to herself.
To be sure, Clematis had not learned to do much, but she had learned to do her best.
Mr. Brooks found that she could help in many ways, and she was so anxious to do her best, that he gladly forgave her mistakes.