recalling all the Roman
titles she had ever heard of. "Call it--let's see, call it Fern-nook."

"Yes, I would," laughed Kat "It's so appropriate. There's not a fern
within a mile, and not the ghost of a nook anywhere."

"Well, I thought Bird's-nest a real pretty name," said Bea, swinging her
hat by its ribbon, and looking thoughtful. "But, somehow, I want
something else."

"What kind of flowers are you going to have?" asked Kittie, with a view
to selecting something appropriate this time.

"Geraniums in the big bed in front, with a border of some kind, then I
will have vines all over the porch, and a lily in the little urn, and a
heart-shaped bed of pansies under that shady side-window. None of those
do for a name, though."

Kittie confessed that they did not, but said in a moment:

"We'll go up and ask Ernestine, if she can't think of something no one
else can." To which they all agreed, and hurried up stairs forthwith.

Ernestine was sitting up in the big rocker, in a lovely white wrapper,
and a little fancy scarlet sacque. She looked very frail and weak,
though very lovely, and much interested when the important question was
put to her. The girls had perfect faith in her selection, and waited
patiently, as her eyes went from the budding trees outside, to the
gleams of sunshine playing across the carpet, then to the bunch of
purple pansies in the vase on the table.

"Call it Hearts-ease," she said.

"I told you," cried Kittie. "That's just the name."

"Hearts-ease it is, to the end of the chapter;" exclaimed Kat with a
flourish as of benediction.

"Yes, that is lovely--and there comes Walter, I'll go right down and
tell him," said Bea, and flitted gayly away.

"A penny for your thoughts, Ernestine," said Kat, watching her eyes go
out to the sunshine again with a dreamy smile.

"I was thinking how happy everything was," answered Ernestine slowly.
"It's all so lovely. Olive is doing so splendidly in her painting. Bea
is so happy. Jean is coming home, and--I am here. I can hardly believe
it even now, and I so often wonder if I'm happy enough."

"This will be a gay old household," said Kat briskly, warmed into gayety
by the sad tone of the invalid's voice. "Uncle Ridley will make Bea a
handsome present I expect."

"How strange and delightful it will be to have Jeanie home, bless her
precious little heart," cried Kittie with loving eagerness. "I can
hardly wait, and mama seems almost too happy to live."