nt straight to bed, but she's had a cup of tea and will be down in a
few minutes."

They entered the parlor. Marilla took off her hat and coat, it was so
warm indoors. She had on a new frock, a curious blue that was very
becoming. Her cheeks were a lovely pink, her eyes full of expectancy.

Miss Armitage came down the back stairway and through the library.
Marilla gave one cry and was in her arms.

No one had won her away, then. During these days she had had many
thoughts about the child's future. She had felt jealous of the new
found relatives and their love, of Dr. Richards' devotion, of the
happy times when she had been counted out. Work had failed to inspire,
evenings had been lonely, dreary. Oh, she would never let her go away
again unless she went with her. She would beseech the law to make the
child hers--

"Oh, fairy godmother!" The charming, joyous tone that showed the
child's certainty of a warm welcome. "It has all been so lovely, but I
wanted you so. I wanted you to see the girls and their father who is
the loveliest, no not _quite_ the loveliest," and her eyes shone with
a tender radiance, the flush made her beautiful. "For, fairy
godmother, I have a father now who will love me and care for me, and I
am filled to the brim with happiness--it is better than the fortune. I
could hardly wait to tell you. Oh, please be glad for my sake."

"A father?" she repeated, in a breathless tremulous sort of way.

"Yes," said Dr. Richards, and there was a strange sort of assurance in
his tone. He seemed to have changed mysteriously--there is a vigor, a
power and withal a sweet satisfaction in his face that gives her a
pang she does not understand.

"Yes," he repeated. "The fortune is all right. I have been made her
guardian, but that did not satisfy me. I have taken out papers of
adoption, she is my child, my little little daughter and she has a
new, legal, lawful name--Marilla Cinderella Richards."

"Oh, oh!" The pathetic cry unnerved him.

"Dear fairy godmother it can't make any difference in my love for you.
I loved you first, you know. I shall always love you, but I want us to
live together and be as happy as they are at the Warrens, and I love
him, my new father, so much. When you have something of your very own
it fills you everywhere like beautiful music. I've been learning how
sweet and dear it can be. Oh, fairy godmother, I want you both. It
would break my heart to lose either of you. Oh, fairy godmother