ar," Mrs. Britton said, as she
watched her daughter; but Barbara declared it was imagination, and
Donald and Frances gave it as their opinion that it was only the
"Frenchy kind of look she had."

"You have dressed her in such jolly things, aunt," Frances said
admiringly. "I like a person to come home looking like the country
she's come from, and it'll be a great advantage to her teaching--she'll
get heaps of pupils, I'm sure."

"Oh, we'll not talk about the teaching just yet," Mrs. Britton said
quickly. "She must have a week or two free first, and then it will be
time enough for us to think about it;" and to that there was no
dissentient voice--except Barbara's.

Aunt Anne had brought home some treasures too; but was quite willing to
keep hers till later, and the children declared, with round eyes of
delight, that Barbara had brought enough to last for a very long time.

"You really were a brick to bring so many lovely things, Barbara," said
Frances, trying to fix in a brooch with one hand while she stroked a
silk blouse with the other. "This brooch is so pretty, I'm really not
going to lose it, though I can't think how you got enough money to buy
so much."

Miss Britton looked across at her niece, who hastily dived into her
trunk again; but the former confided to her sister-in-law afterwards,
that Barbara had distributed the remainder of the money she had given
her for riding lessons between the bath-boy and presents for the
home-people, which news made Mrs. Britton prize _her_ share of the
treasures more than ever.

The only thing that a little disappointed the children was that "Uncle
Morton" had not arrived too.

"It's a pity he didn't come with you, we're all so anxious to see him,"
Frances remarked, looking at her aunt, whom Barbara relieved by
answering in her stead.

"Both Mr. Morton and his nephew are coming soon to the inn," she said,
"so you haven't long to wait."

But their curiosity rose to almost unbearable heights before the
fortnight was over, and Barbara had a little difficulty in making them
solemnly promise that they would not bother their aunt with questions
meanwhile.

Frances and Donald both wished to go to the station to meet the train,
but this their mother forbade.

"You will see them here to-night," she said; "they are coming up to
dinner. Meanwhile, content yourselves with Barbara."

"Yes," remarked Donald; "we really didn't realise how much we missed
Barbara until she was