l
spirit in their midst, and wasn't she whisked on to the lounge in a
hurry, and kissed heartily by every one in the excitement.

"God bless my soul! How happy we all are!" cried Mr. Congreve, with a
final gasp of joy, and sitting down with an exhausted smile. "I never
expected to be in such a good humor again as long as I lived--no I
never did. I'm fairly swelled up with happiness, and I've bust a button
right off my vest."

Everybody laughed heartily. Gay words and blithe laughs hung on every
one's lips; everything was sunshine, and every one was happy. What a
household idol was Jean in the days that followed! How mother and
sisters clung to her, watched her walk--oh, joy of all joys--so straight
and free; and how many, many times did Mrs. Dering go to Mr. Congreve,
and put her arms about his neck, like a child, to thank him, again and
again, as the agent whom God had sent to be the means of answering her
most fervent prayers!

Well, to be sure, as Kat had said, it was a lively household now.

The day before the wedding, the girls all went over to the new house--to
"Hearts-ease." Mr. Phillips sent the buggy over so that Ernestine could
go, and she and Bea drove over, while the rest walked. It was a pretty
little place, indeed, as they came in sight of it, nestled under a big
tree, that was just budding into pale green in the spring sunshine.
Everything was ready for the young bride to take possession on the next
day, even to the mat laid before the front door on the new porch, and
the bright tin cup hanging to the freshly painted pump in the little
back yard.

Bea unlocked the door, with an air of proud importance, and they went
in, all anxious to show Ernestine and Jean every corner, as it was their
first visit. The little mite of a square hall, and the small
sitting-room on one side, were covered with brown and white matting,
with soft, woolly rugs of brown and white. Curtains of soft, shady brown
were at the windows, and the walls were papered in clear creamy white,
with a deep border of brown dashed in gold. The chairs were all willow,
also a pretty, standing work-basket, already filled with some of Bea's
light work; and there, on the table, lay some of the young doctor's
books and papers. The tiny dining room next, with its round table and
new chairs, its little closet, with the shelves covered with snowy
paper, and well stocked with dishes, all plain and cheap, but of pretty
shapes and serviceable strength