roduced."

"Yes, he will. I've found her name on the list we sent announcements
to," Celia said, dismally. "I didn't notice at the time, because there
were ever so many friends of his, people in all parts of the world.
'Mrs. Randolph Peyton,' that's it."

"Hope Mr. Randolph Peyton'll get anxious to see her, and send for her to
come home at once!" growled Jeff.

"She's in mourning. I presume she's a widow," was all the comfort Celia
could give him.

"Then she'll stay all winter!" cried Just with such hopeless inflection
that his sister laughed.

When she went over at half past six o'clock, to light the fire, she
found the three visitors gathered in the living-room. She had hoped they
might stay up-stairs at least until the first welcome had been given to
Charlotte and Andrew. But it turned out that Mrs. Peyton had inquired of
Mrs. Fields the exact hour of the expected arrival, and presumably had
considered that since the Peytons represented Doctor Churchill's side of
the house, their part in his welcome home was not to be gainsaid.

Mr. Birch, Jeff, Just, and Mrs. Birch with little Ellen, presently
appeared. Lansing had gone back to his law school, but a great bunch of
roses represented him. It had been Charlotte's express command that
nobody should go to the station to meet the returning travellers, but
that everybody should be in the little brick house to welcome them when
they should drive up.

"Here they are! Here they are!" shouted Just, from behind a window
curtain, where he had been keeping close watch on the circle of radiance
from the nearest arc-light. There was a rush for the door. Jeff flung it
open, and he and Just raced to the hansom which was driving up. The rest
of the party crowded the doorway, Mrs. Peyton and Lucy and Randolph
being of the group.

"How are you, everybody?" called Doctor Churchill's eager voice, as he
and Charlotte ran up the walk to the door, Jeff and Just following.
"Well, this is fine! Father--mother--Celia--my little Ellen--bless your
hearts, but it's good to see you!"

How could anybody help loving a son-in-law like that? One would have
thought they were indeed his own. While Charlotte remained wrapped in
her mother's embrace, Doctor Churchill was greeting them all twice over,
with apparently no eyes for the three he had not expected to see. For
the moment it was plain that he had not recognized them, and supposed
them to be strangers to whom he would presently be made kn