"It is Tom, and he has news!" exclaimed Mrs. Legrange in a low
voice, as she pushed away the tray and rose to her feet.
The door opened, and the young man entered, his tired face glowing
with hope and satisfaction. In his hand he held a little bundle; and
sitting down, with no more than word of greeting, he hastily untied
it upon his knee.
"Aren't these her clothes?" asked he breathlessly, as he held up by
one sleeve a little sky-blue merino-dress, with a torn lace
undersleeve hanging from the shoulder, and in the other hand a pair
of dainty little boots of bronze cloth.
Mrs. Legrange, with a wild cry, darted forward, and, grasping the
pretty dress, buried her face in it, covering it with kisses, while
she cried,--
"Yes, yes! O Tom! where is she? Tell me quick, before my poor heart
breaks with joy!"
Mr. Burroughs remained silent. How could he say that he knew as
little as ever how to answer this appeal?
"Where did you get them, Tom?" asked Mr. Legrange hurriedly.
"Billings found them in a pawn-broker's shop. You know we gave all
the detectives a list of the clothing, and full description of the
child. Billings has been all over the city, examining at every
pawn-broker's shop all the children's clothes brought in since we
lost her, you know"--
"Yes, yes! And when"--
"Last night he found this in a little out-of-the-way place (I didn't
stop to ask where), and, thinking they looked like the right thing,
brought them to me.
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