The S. W. F. Club

rched, a little white-clad sentry, on the gate-post,

one in fact, as well as name. It was fun to be playing

manded, "why father insisted on coming 'round the lower road, by the depot-he didn't stop,

asked him to-company usually comes by t

and returned missionari

ly bewildered. "But ar

ed from one to another,

dear," her mother told he

it!" Patience danced ex

ry said wonderingly. Th

How perfectly d

rs. "You have come back a good deal better than

r all," Hilary declared. "I've had a lovely time. Only

ny?" Pauline laughed. "A

she hardly seemed the same girl who had gone away so reluctantly only eight days before. The change

sister's valise, "perhaps you would like t

tience prompted. Patience believed in play

e of formality in her voice, "if you don't mind; though

company-like hug. "It is good to be home, Mother Shaw! And please, you don

her mother answe

know-everything," Patience announced, accompanying her

ghingly-"Was there ever such a

xclaimed, "only now-it c

air!" Hilary insisted. "Oh,

e cried, as Hilary stopped before th

're making yourself very much at home! Walking into peoples' rooms." She

e still on the threshold, looking a

the fresh white matting, the cozy corner opposite-with its delicate old-fashioned chintz drapery and big cushions, the new toilet covers-white over green, the fresh curtains at the windows, th

owed them up-stairs, and stood waiting just outside the d

ilary now, you're 'Miss Shaw' and you're here on a visit; and there's c

they had done this-why Pauline had said that-about her not going away; there was a sudden lump in

the valise, as she had unpacked it a week ago at The Maples, Hilary sat in the low chair b

lieve that's all now-you'd better lie

y. I'll lie down if you like, only

's something in the top drawer of the dresser," she said, "but you'

, she lay watching the slight swaying of the wild roses in the tall jar on the hearth. The wild roses ran rampant in the little lane leading from the ba

waved, transforming the old dull room into a place for a girl t

ngs, she told herself now. She must not be slow to play her

blue-print frock. Being company, it stood to reason she must dress

d beads slowly through her fingers. How good everyone was to her; for the first time some understanding of the bright side even

r," the girl thought, clasping the beads about h

nk and white wild roses in her belt, her soft, fair hair freshly bru

om his book with a smile of pleasure. "My dear, how well you are looking

is good to be at home again. I suppose you know

Please come, because-" she caught herself up, putting a h

y dear?" she asked, in the tone fre

than I'm treated genera

like W

d into the chair Patience drew forward politely. "Th

our voice," Patience reproved her, then at a warning glance from

company suppers. And she, too, played her part in the new game, calling Hi

the manor to see Shi

line and I would be over soon. We may have

y can't have Fanny, can they, fat

tioningly. "What is

r," Pauline said hurriedly. "D

," Patience implored. "I-

ary asked.

r chair. "For-Well, if

'd do some prett

er father sai

r?" Patience asked. "I'l

lied most willing

I mean, not to eat?" Hilary aske

ne answered. "Because, i

l door. "But she says, of course, it was meant for u

ive?" Hil

told her. "I certainly hope nothin

Hilary

y the way, where

days; she was a bit too yo

e sugar!" Pa

nce's remark, if it had not absolutely let the cat out of

to be any such word as can't," Pauline declared. "Come on--a

d open doorway, her whole small person one animated exclamation point, while Towser, just home fro

nce warned them. She moved to one side, to let Hilary go on in

already she had come to associate the frequent visits of these new friends. She was a pretty, w

ionless, too sur

en very polite to her, and she knows it-Bedelia does, I mean-sometimes, when Fanny isn't looking, I've caught Bedeli

ary turned

noon. One of the men from Uncle Paul's place in the country brought her

ultan of Turkey, instead of Uncle Paul, she could hardly have be

o

t they never would get to the end of their story. "You just come look at this, Hi

ried, followin

rtest of smart traps, and hanging on the wall behin

aw horse; she felt again as

Jim says so," Patience said. Jim was the sta

one had always known that there was-somewhere-a person named Uncle Paul; but he had appe

shouldn't he?" P

en to him that time," Patience added. "Maybe next time

at Pauline. "You didn

fraid

letter-you remembe

think I do

did you e

ood to dare any

swer; but of c

red. Though n

written? Paul, you didn't ask him to send you

manor in style now, can't we-even if father can't spare Fanny. Bedelia's perfectly gentle, I've driven her a little way

in her young days, clergymen didn't go kiting

Dane said, or didn't s

t got to say on any subject, wouldn

t stop repeating what

-then you'll be repeati

o have said those th

o back to the house no

ired to have a horse and rig like that, when she was a girl. She sa

k on the side porch, with her mother in her chair close by, and Pauline sitting

ils a little and getting to that twenty-five dollars a month

up among her cushions-"Why,

seem

e first twenty-five on me; and that's n

e," Pauline insisted. "We got our f

smiled. "I

simply got to 'drink fair, Betsy,'

said, and Patience got slowly o

any,-that probably you'd like me t

my advice, she'll go, to

she will." Hilary slip

uppose Miranda's

illing to postpone the inevitable

nt with Miranda

omething

t I d

to-night. Mother, what

would be tha

taken her back hair down, and she's waiting to tw

nce!" her mother

here's suc

get yourself ready

the spare room. "You ai

a, if it wouldn't be too much trouble,

iranda said, moving Hi

ther have a room to yourself-

the two single white beds were standing side by side, in their accustomed fashion, the covers turned back for the night, she nodded in satisfied manner. "Thank you so much

got slowly up from the hearth rug, her head a sight to behold, with its tiny, hornlike red braids sticking out in every dire

ever mind, old girl, you know you'd never

got the better of her joy in having her sister back in more senses than

lub," Hilary said musi

isted those letters st

and Mr. Dayre suggested

wer

sleep now, Hilary, else moth

I'll never say again-that n

d in on her way to the post-office with her father that afternoon, to ask how Hilar

n, and Shirley's prompt and delighted acce

the young folks settled themselves on the porch af

nting us five, to begi

om took out his list, "

That'

in, Tom Brice!" Patience demanded,

rd! I didn'

elong! Ain

Pat

to say no, you

ary suggested. "You wouldn't want t

away, she decided to retire on her own account. That blissful time, when she should be "Miss Shaw," had one drawbac

are to do?" Pauline asked

u'll be up to a ride by

ery lon

lary answered eagerly.

's te

en tell me,"

ou're none of you to kn

four o

ink it's going to be the