st feeling was of disappointment; in
the square lines of the house there was little claim to beauty. But
its ugliness was softened by the wonderful trees that arched over its
roof; the gray of its walls and the tightly blinded windows gave a
stirring hint of mystery.

The door, built squarely in the middle of the house, opened almost
directly upon a stone-flagged path that led in a straight line to the
road. There was something sternly formidable about it; Nancy, staring
at it with a rapidly beating heart, wondered, when it opened, what
might lie in store for her beyond it!

Webb, with much ado, was swinging her big bag over the wheel.

"Wal, we're makin' history, I guess, with another little Anne Leavitt
comin' to Happy House! Them horses'll stand and I'll jus' carry this
bag up fer you. Come along, Missy, and remember what Webb tells ye--ye
make up to B'lindy!"

Nancy followed him up the path to the door. To herself she was
whispering, over the quaking of her heart:

"Well, good-by Nancy Leavitt--you're _Anne_ now and don't you forget it
for one single minute!"

CHAPTER III

HAPPY HOUSE

In the long, dim, high-ceilinged hall of Happy House Nancy felt very
small and very much afraid. Though Miss Sabrina was standing very
close to her it seemed as though her voice came from a long way off.
It was a cold voice, and although Miss Sabrina was without doubt trying
to be gracious, there was no warmth in her greeting. She was very
tall, with a long Roman nose that gave her entire appearance a
forbidding look.

Following her, Nancy stumbled up the long stairs and down an upper hall
to a door where Miss Sabrina stopped.

"This is the guest room," she explained, as she opened the door.

Someone had opened one of the blinds so here there was more light.
Nancy, looking about, thought that it was the most dreadfully tidy room
she had ever seen. It had a starched look--the heavy lace curtains at
the window were so stiff that they could have stood quite alone without
pole or ring; the stiff-backed cushioned chairs were covered with stiff
linen "tidies," edged with stiff lace; the bureau and washstand were
likewise protected and a newly starched and ruffled strip, of a sister
pattern, protected the wall behind the bowl.

"I think you'll find it comfortable--here. There is a pleasant land
breeze at night and it is quiet," Miss Sabrina was saying.

"_Quiet_!" thought Nancy. Was there any noise anywhere o