orrow is Wednesday, and Ernestine will be here. Oh, don't it seem
too happy to be true," cried Kittie, wiping away her tears with a strand
of ruffling. "How do you suppose it ever happened? I can hardly wait;
what shall we do to make time pass?"

There proved to be plenty to keep their hands in keeping with their
thoughts, for a room must be prepared for the invalid, and thoroughly
prepared, too. They went to work on it that afternoon, first building a
bright fire in the great fire-place, and throwing open all the windows
to let the sunshine pour in. How strange it seemed; how happy, and yet
how sad! Ernestine coming home! Not dead nor lost, but coming home,
feeble and helpless! Where had she been all these long, weary months?
and had any of their heart-aches and longings reached her? Perhaps she
had been sick and alone, had not known of their eager search, or been
able to drag herself back to them.

The girls laughed and cried, while they swept, and dusted, and made up
the bed like a snow-bank, ready turned down to admit the weary form. The
whitest, most beautifully fluted curtains were hung before the windows,
whose panes glistened like diamonds from hot soap-suds and crisp
rubbings. All the pretty knick-knacks were brought in and put upon the
walls with an eye to Ernestine's graceful little fancy likings. The
easiest chairs, and prettiest rugs--in short, when finished, it was a
little bower, and Kittie put the finishing touches in the way of flowers
and vines, that, together, with the sunshine, made a sick-room of
perfection to greet the coming invalid. Mrs. Dering went down to Mr.
Phillips's to get Prince and the buggy, and found that the news had
preceded her. The telegram had been repeated, and in an hour's time had
pretty near made the circle of Canfield; so her appearance was greeted
with joyful congratulations and sympathetic rejoicing; for Canfield had
taken the matter to heart, and having grieved with the family, were now
prepared to rejoice with it also. Miss Clara Raymond met Mrs Dering on
her way to Mr. Phillips's, and offered their carriage, which was
gratefully accepted, as it was large, low, and easy, and much more
comfortable than the buggy for an invalid.

Little sleeping was done that night, and in the morning the girls cooked
every dainty that Ernestine had ever loved. They cleaned the whole house
till it shone, under the stress of excitement; and, as train time drew
near, they fairly grew weak an