CHAPTER XVIII
MISTAKEN IDENTITY
Mrs. Hobbs came back to Dorothy as she had promised, and also, as shehad promised, she did open a window.
This open window was Dorothy's hope. If she could only slip out of it,and drop to the little piazza below!
Mrs. Hobbs had brought up a cup of warm milk, and a slice of toast.Dorothy took it thankfully, and felt stronger.
"You feel better now?" asked the woman. "I have to go over the hillfor berries--we have a great crop to-day, and Josh had to go away onbusiness." If only Dorothy knew what business! "Do you think you'll beall right if I fetch you something to read?"
"Why, of course. I feel very well to-day, and I shall be glad to sitby the window and read," said Dorothy.
"Here's a book. I got it off last year's Christmas tree, but I ain'thad no time to read it." She handed Dorothy a volume bound in red andinscribed "Myrtle and Ivy." There was nothing to show whether it wasan agricultural guide, a spiritual retreat, or a love song.
"It's a pretty book," said Dorothy, "and I am sure I shall enjoy it."
"Yes, then I'll be off. Only let me tell you one thing dear," and thewoman came up very close to Dorothy, "you must promise me not to tryto get away until I can take you to the station. Josh has the wagon."
"All right," replied Dorothy with an amused smile. "Why should I tryto get away?"
"Don't know, dear, only I must have your promise."
Dorothy felt queer--she had reason to be grateful to Mrs. Hobbs, andto give a promise would involve an obligation. Yet she must make herescape. Some disturbance downstairs saved the girl further anxiety onthe question of the promise. Mrs. Hobbs ran down to the door, and shedid not return.
The summer morning hours sent in their greeting through the smallwindow that opened above the porch. Dorothy was nervous, she mustleave just as soon as she saw Mrs. Hobbs disappear over the hill, whenshe would be out of the sight of the house. And her purse was gone!Well, once out on the clear roadway, surely some one would befriendher. What a dreadful thing it was to be a prisoner! And not to knowwhy she was imprisoned! Her beautiful hair had not been combed in twodays. Dorothy did the best she could to make it smooth with her sidecomb, but the depth of the hair, and the size of the comb, made thematter of actual hair-dressing a difficult task. But there was freshwater in the basin, and she could wash, which was one comfort. "Ifonly I had my purse," she thought, "with my little looking glass.Well, it will scarcely matter how I look--so long as I do not attractattention."
As if Dorothy could help attracting attention!
Mrs. Hobbs's generous form had dropped behind the hill. There wasnothing to wait for now, Dorothy must get out of that window.
The window frame was that sort that runs to the roof and has not farto go. It was really not half a window, but it was large enough forthe girl's slim form to slip through. It was no distance to the roof,then she could slide down the post.
Dorothy was out. She sat upon the roof and with a careful move slidtoward the edge.
She must stop near a post, as she could not stand up!
Yes, what blessing! She was directly above the post!
Dorothy was not an athlete, but she was always able to climb. Sheswung around the post--down--down--to the ground!
But no sooner had her feet touched the welcome earth that a shrillscream startled her!
She was puzzled and alarmed until she saw a big, green parrot in acage. And the bird was screeching to the limit of its capacity. Mrs.Hobbs could hear it! Should Dorothy throw a mat from the porch overits cage!
No, the door was opened, the bird was out,--and it was actually flyingat Dorothy!
"Mama! Mama!" it yelled. "Come quick! Come quick!"
Snatching up a stick, Dorothy made an attempt to strike the greenthing as it flapped toward her. But she could not hit it! And if sheturned to run it would likely settle its claws into her head. Yet shemust run! Mrs. Hobbs--
Without time for further thought Dorothy did run; down the lane, andinto the road.
The parrot had not followed! Dorothy was out on the road, she couldsurely get back to camp now. Oh, how glorious it was!
Gratefully she raised her eyes to the clear sky. Her heart sent up itsthanks--to the Friend who is never hidden from those who seek Him.
"And there comes a carriage," she told herself, as a rumbling ofwheels took her attention. "Perhaps the driver will give me a lift."
The wagon was hidden from view as the road turned sharply just underthe oaks. Dorothy waited. Yes, and there was a young woman in thecarriage. Wasn't that fortunate?
The carriage turned so close to Dorothy that she had no need to take asingle step to hail it. And it was almost stopped, yes; it did stopnow.
The young woman in the carriage was garbed in white--a nurse.
"Is this the Hobb's place?" she asked of Dorothy.
"Yes," replied the girl in surprise.
Then the nurse jumped out of the carriage. She looked keenly atDorothy.
"Do you--stop there?" she asked curiously.
"I have been stopping there," answered Dorothy, now completelymystified by the young woman's manner.
"Is your name----"
"My name is Dorothy Dale, and for some reason I have been--hidden awayfrom my friends," said Dorothy bravely. "I was just about to ask youto assist me to get back to them. I was in camp at Everglade."
"Why, of course I will assist you!" replied the nurse in the mostaffable manner. "Get right into the carriage, and we will have youback at camp in no time." Dorothy hesitated. The nurse consulted asmall note book.
"Come right in, dear. We are going straight down to Everglade," andshe touched Dorothy's arm to urge her.
"Strange, I feel so nervous about falling into traps," said Dorothyhonestly, looking deeply into the eyes that were investigating everyfeature of her own fair face. "But you see I did fall, literally,and----"
"Of course, and you were hurt." Dorothy could not understand thatcaressing manner. It was identical with that exercised by Mrs. Hobbs."Now, come," and Dorothy did step into the carriage. "We will drivealong quickly, so that we may reach camp before luncheon. James, hurryyour horse."
For a few moments Dorothy felt as if she must collapse. The strain ofher escape from the old house, then her fright from the bird, and herfear that Mrs. Hobbs would overtake her. And now to be actually ridingback to camp! What would her friends say to her? Oh, how good it wouldbe to relieve them of all their anxiety, and to be really going backwell--comparatively well, at any rate.
"I've had quite a time of it these last two days," she remarked,glancing timidly at the figure in white beside her, "but it seems allthings come out right--if we only have patience."
"But I wouldn't talk dear--the sun has been warm, and you are quiteoverheated. Wouldn't you like to rest your head here, on my lap?"
Dorothy sat up erect. This was surely unheard of. Who was this nurse?Where was she taking her?
"I am perfectly well, thank you," she said in the firmest tones shecould command, "and I really would like to know where we are going?Why do you treat me as if I were ill or a child?"
"There, there," and the nurse touched Dorothy's hand. "Of course youare perfectly well, and of course, we are going to camp. James, isyour horse asleep?"
But Dorothy was frightened. There was something mysterious in it all.Another wagon approached. It drew slowly along.
Mr. Hobbs!
Dorothy's heart gave a leap as his old wagon stopped! The nurse puther head out of the little curtained window and made signs to him.
"All right! All right!" he replied. "Yes, that's her!"
"That's her!" repeated Dorothy. "That's me! What is this trick? Let meout of this carriage instantly, or I will call for help!"
"If you do not keep quiet, I shall be obliged to restrain you," saidthe nurse. "Miss Harriwell, we are taking you back to the sanitarium.I am your new nurse."
"Sanitarium! New nurse! Miss Harriwell! I am Dorothy Dal
e, and I havenever been inside a sanitarium!"
The carriage dashed into a driveway! A big brownstone buildingconfronted them.
A corps of nurses hurried out to the path!
When Dorothy saw them she fainted!