ra--and the last time she stayed she was much
improved."

"It'll be interesting having a new uncle too," Frances remarked
complacently. "We're rather badly off for uncles, Don, and from what
Barbara says this Mr. Morton must be very--nice, though, of course,
Barbara isn't quite to be trusted, seeing she's such a friend of
Denys'. Let me see, now, what relation will _he_ be to us?"

"Oh, don't bother about relationships at present--you may just have to
rearrange them again," Donald said impatiently. "Let's go and be
thinking of something to welcome Barbara back."

On that matter they held a long consultation, Donald being in favour of
taking the horse out of the fly and drawing it home themselves, and
Frances inclining more to wreaths and decoration.

She got her way in the end, as she pointed out to her brother that the
cabman would probably not allow them to take the horse out, and that
they would have to pay for it all the same, and worst of all, that they
would be so much out of breath with pulling that they would not be able
to ask any questions when they got home. It was probably the last
reason that weighed the most with Donald, who agreed to devote his
energies to making an archway over the garden path and setting off some
fireworks in the evening.

On the whole, the arch was quite a success, and looked very pretty,
though it was not so secure as it might have been, and its makers felt
it safer to fasten to it a large label with the inscription, "Not to be
handled."

The travellers were not to arrive till late in the afternoon, and poor
Mrs. Britton was driven nearly distracted by the intense excitement
pervading among the children during the morning. One of the twins had
actually suggested putting on her best frock the night before so as to
be quite ready on the following day.

It is seldom that such an eagerly-expected event is not disappointing
in some detail of its fulfilment, but there was not a shade upon the
happiness on this occasion. Barbara and Miss Britton arrived at the
right time, _with_ their luggage; the archway remained firm until both
the travellers had passed underneath (though it collapsed shortly
afterwards); and the fireworks were as successful as such things
usually are. It is true that Donald was a trifle hurried over
displaying them, for Barbara was as anxious to unpack the treasures she
had brought home as the children were to see them.

"You are still a _little_ thin, de