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 *most to tears. As an orator Laurie did himself proud on that occasion. By the time he had finished he was almost as much moved as his hearers.

There had been, of course, interruptions, but they had been few, and Laurie had waved them aside. Now, at the end, both Ned and Bob wanted many things explained to them. Thanks, however, to his talk that afternoon with Mrs. Deane and, later, with Polly, Laurie was in a position to answer all questions promptly and lucidly. When, as infrequently occurred, his knowledge was insufficient, he answered just the same. He grudgingly struck off ten years from Miss Comfort's age at Bob's behest, but to all other statements he clung tenaciously.

"Another thing I don't understand," said Ned, "is why some of the folks she knows don't give her a home. There must be lots of people in Orstead who would be glad to take her in."

"What good would that do?" asked Laurie. "They might give her a room to sleep in, but how would she live? You know perfectly well that they wouldn't be willing to let her use their kitchen to make her cakes and things in. And if