s again, and
they went in and out of all the rooms.

Bobby was still exclaiming as he went about.

'Look, True, those were the pictures which used to frown on me in the
dining-room when I went in. Me and Nobbles finked we heard them say,
"Run away; you've no business here." But they seem quite smiling now,
and what lovely flowers on the dinner-table! There never used to be
such pretty ones when I sawed them before. And the blinds are up, and
the sun is coming in, and, oh! do come to the libr'ry and see what it's
like now. There, look, True! those horrid blind heads are nearly all
gone; and it's got a new carpet and pretty curtains and flowers. Oh,
it's so 'normously diff'rent!'

'We are not going to have any gloomy rooms here if we can help it,'
said Lady Isobel smiling; 'and now come into the drawing-room. You are
going to have tea with us there for a treat.'

It looked quite a new room to Bobby. All the furniture had been
altered; magazines and books, work, and flowers gave the impression
that it was a room to be lived in. It seemed to reflect some of Lady
Isobel's sweet cheerfulness upon those who came inside it.

Bobby wandered round it, noting all the changes, and touching with
reverent fingers many of Lady Isobel's pretty knick-knacks.

'It looks like your pretty house that I sawed when I went to tea with
you long ago,' he said.

Lady Isobel nodded.

'I hoped you would like it, Bobby, darling. Your uncle and I want to
have a happy home, with plenty of sunshine in it.'

'Will it be always summer?' asked True reflectively.

'Always in our hearts, I hope,' answered Lady Isobel.

Bobby sat down in a low, cushioned seat and put on his thinking cap.
Past and present presented many pictures. His uncle coming in noticed
a gravity about his small face that he wished to remove. He spoke to
him with a twinkle in his eye.

'Will you promise me not to put marbles in my boots to-morrow morning?'

Bobby started; then he chuckled.

'You finked it was Nobbles. I needn't hide from peoples now. Me and
Nobbles can walk over the house, where we likes. Aunt Is'bel says so.'

'Do you like coming back to the old house again, darling?' asked Lady
Isobel, for she had noted a certain wistfulness in Bobby's gaze.

'Yes,' he said; 'but it's a new house to me. The old one has died with
grandmother; and Jenkins has gone, and Jane. Is Tom here?'

'Yes, Tom is here still, and looking forward to see you so much