制造厂主管马歇尔答应了肯尼思提出的撤诉要求，趁机勒索了肯尼思一笔钱，汤姆获释出狱。肯尼思和贝丝为了获取露西失踪的线索去了露西的家。在返回的路上，他们看到了霍普金斯乘坐的马车，贝丝惊讶地发现坐在他身边的女孩貌似失踪的露西！
A woman was sitting in a low room，engaged in knitting.Her feet were stretched out toward a small fire that smouldereda in an open hearth.She wore a simple calicob gown，neat and well—？tting，and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to effacec.
Suddenly she paused in her work，her head turned slightlyto one side to listen.
"Come in，sir，"she called in a soft but distinct voice；"come in，miss."So Kenneth and Beth entered at the half—open porch door and advanced into the room.
"Is this Mrs.Rogers？"asked Beth，looking at the womancuriously.The woman's eyes were closed，but the lashes fell in graceful dark curves over her withered cheeks.The girl wondered how she had been able to know her visitors'sex so accurately.
"Yes，I am Mrs.Rogers，"said the sweet，sad voice.
"And I think you are one of the young ladies from Elmhurst—perhaps the one Will talked to.""You are right，Mrs.Rogers.I am Elizabeth DeGraf.""And your companion—is it Mr.Forbes？"the woman asked.
"Yes，madam，"replied Kenneth，astonished to findWill's wife speaking with so much refinement and graciousease.
"You are very welcome.Will you please find seats？My af？ictiona renders me helpless，as you may see.""We are very comfortable，I assure you，Mrs.Rogers，"said Beth."We have come to ask if you have heard anything of your daughter.""Not a word as yet，Miss DeGraf，Will is out with thehorse and buggy doing his best to get information.But Lucy has been gone so long now that I realize it will be dif？cult to ？nd her，if，indeed，the poor girl has not—is not—"Her voice broke.
"Oh，you don't fear that，do you，Mrs.Rogers？"asked Beth，quickly.
"I fear anything—everything！"wailed the poor creature，the tears streaming from between her closed lids."My darling was frantic with grief，and she couldn't bear the humiliation and disgrace of her position.Will told you，didn't he？""Yes，of course.But it wasn't so bad，Mrs.Rogers；itwasn't a desperate condition，by any means.""With poor Tom in prison for years—and just for trying to help her.""Tom isn't in prison，you know，any more，"said Bethquietly."He has been released.""Released！When？""Last evening.His fault has been forgiven，and he is nowfree."The woman sat silent for a time.Then she asked："You have done this，Mr.Forbes？""Why，Miss DeGraf and I assisted，perhaps.The young man is not really bad，and—""Tom's a fine boy！"she cried，with eagerness."He's honest and true，Mr.Forbes—he is，indeed！""I think so，"said Kenneth.
"If he wasn't my Lucy would never have loved him.He had a bright future before him，sir，and that's why my child went mad when he ruined his life for her sake.""Was she mad，do you think？"asked Beth，softly.
"She must have been，"said the mother，sadly."Lucy was a sensible girl，and until this thing happened she was as bright and cheerful as the day is long.But she is very sensitive—she inherited that from me，I think—and Tom's action drove her distracted.At ？rst she raved and rambled incoherentlya，and Will and I feared brain fever would set in.Then she disappeared in the night，without leaving a word or message for us，which was unlike her—and we've never heard a word of her since.The—the river has a strange fascination for people in that condition.At times in my life it has almost drawn me into its depths—and I am not mad.I have never been mad.""Let us hope for the best，Mrs.Rogers，"said Beth."Somehow，I have an idea this trouble will all turn out well inthe end.""Have you？"asked the woman，earnestly.
"Yes.It all came about through such a little thing—merely an unjust accusationa.""The little things are the ones that ruin lives，"she said.
"Will you let me tell you something of myself？You have been so kind to us，my dear，that I feel you ought to know.""I shall be glad to know whatever you care to tell me，"said Beth，simply.
"I am the wife of a poor farmer，"began the woman，speaking softly and with some hesitation，but gaining strength as she proceeded."As a girl I was considered attractive，and my father was a man of great wealth and social standing.We lived in Baltimore.Then I fell in love with a young man who，after obtaining my promise to marry him，found some one he loved better and carelessly discarded me.As I have said，I have a sensitive nature.In my girlhood I was especially susceptibleb to any slight，and this young man's heartless action made it impossible for me to remain at home and facethe humiliation he had thrust uponc me.My father was a hard man，and demanded that I marry the man he had himself chosen；but I resented this command and ran away.My mother had passed on long before，and there was nothing to keep me at home.I came west and secured a position to teachschool in this county，and for a time I was quite contented and succeeded in living downa my disappointment.I heard but once from my father.He had married again and disinherited me.He forbade me to ever communicate with him again.
