CHAPTER XLI 



THE STUDIO FAVORITE AND TURTLE-HEADS 



When Tommy came home we told him that 

 Philip had talked with the strange girl whose name 

 was Lucy, and that she lived in the little brown 

 house. Of course, he was afraid to ask any ques- 

 tions, fearing this might be another of Philip's 

 jokes. But after awhile he saw that we were all 

 quite serious. He remembered then that it was 

 time to look for the curious flower he had told us 

 about a few days ago, and said its bunk was only 

 a little way from the brown house. 



" Tommy," Grandmother said, " you and I will 

 go to see Lucy first, and later you can all look for 

 the flower." 



They started together and walked along the 

 narrow road that we take less often than the others. 

 When they were near. to the house, they saw Lucy 

 on the veranda, rocking herself backward and for- 

 ward in a great wicker chair. They saw her 

 plainly, for there were no longer any Wistaria 

 blossoms, and hardly any leaves on the vine that 

 grew to the top of the roof. 



Grandmother asked Lucy if her father was at 

 home. She had heard that Lucy had no mother, 

 and that her father's name was Paul Leonard. 



" Father is in the studio," Lucy answered, and 

 ran into the house. 



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