her tears."

"Oh, how cruel!" cried Camille, almost in tears herself.

"And when you had gone blind through your constant embroidering to keep
your little tribe together--Joyce and all!"

"Never mind, dear! Larry came then and saved us all."

She turned a sweet glance upon her son-in-law, which made him flush with
pleasure.

"I don't know about that saving process, mother. I've pretty often
declared in my own mind that Dorette and you came along just in the nick
of time to save _me_."

"Me too," put in Dodo, insistent on general principles.

"And me!" added Camille, laughing and squeezing the baby afresh, her
moods as quick to change as those of capricious April, always.

"Yes, the whole shirackety of you," returned Larry, folding his napkin.
"And Joyce has made amends since, I'm sure."

"Indeed she has, dear child!"

"But mother, even Joyce has never given----"

"Hush, Camille! Don't say it. Joyce knows we are entirely comfortable,
and she has large plans to carry out. She gives us unstinted love and
gratitude. Joyce has never failed me yet."

Camille was silenced. She caught Dodo out of her high chair, and made
the movement from table general.

They had scarcely reached the homelike living-room when the doorbell
sounded a quick peal that rang through the house. It made the Madame
exclaim,

"Why, that sounds like her now!" and, sure enough, in a moment Joyce
stood, laughing, in their midst.

"Are you glad to see me?" she cried merrily, passing her greetings
about, but returning to the mother's side directly. "I had Gilbert bring
me over, for I've something to talk about; and may I stay all night?"

A universal cry of assent having answered her, she turned, with her
brightest smile, to Larry.

"Will the honorable householder dismiss my coachman, then?" and as, with
an exaggerated bow and flourish, he disappeared to execute the
commission, she turned swiftly upon Madame Bonnivel. "Ma mere, aren't
you paler than you should be? What is the matter?"

"I've had just a trifle of a headache, cherie, nothing worth
mentioning."

"I don't like those headaches--do see Dodo! Her eyes are falling asleep
while she is running about; if she stops one instant she'll be a goner!"

All laughed as the child opened her drooping lids to their widest, and
declared she "was dest as wide awake as a hen," but papa, who had
re-entered, caught her regardless of protests.

"I'll put her to bed, Dorette. You stay and visit