arles Chessman; he was an
artist and lived in England; while there he married; he wrote your
husband some thirty years ago that he was going to return to America,
but Uncle Robert, you told me, never heard from him again after
receiving the letter."

"Yes, yes!" assented Aunt Ella; "I have the letter. But what is the
mystery, Quincy? You know I can bear anything but suspense."

"There is no mystery, auntie, now; it is all cleared up. Uncle Robert's
brother Charles married Linda Fernborough, Sir Stuart's daughter. The
vessel in which father, mother, and child sailed for America was
wrecked. Father and mother were lost, but the child was rescued. This is
the child. Aunt Ella, Linda Chessman is your niece, but unfortunately I
am unable to call her cousin."

Aunt Ella embraced Linda and talked to her as a mother might talk to her
daughter. Her delight at finding this relative of the husband whom she
had loved so well and mourned so sincerely, showed itself in face, and
voice, and action. Her hospitality knew no bounds. Linda must stay with
her a month at least, so must Sir Stuart and Mdme. Archimbault. It was
the holiday season, and they must all feast and be merry over this
happy, unexpected return.

It was a joyous party that gathered in the dining-room at Aunt Ella's
house that evening. She said that such an occasion could not be fitly
celebrated with plain cold water, so a battle of choke old port was
served to Sir Stuart, and toasts to Mrs. Sawyer and Miss Chessman were
drunk from glasses filled with foaming champagne.

Then all adjourned to Aunt Ella's room and Uncle Robert's prime cigars
were offered to Sir Stuart and Quincy. But Aunt Ella had too much to say
to think of her cigarette. For an hour conversation was general;
everybody took part in it. The events of the past year, which were of so
great interest to all present, were gone over, and when conversation
lagged it was because everybody knew everything that everybody else
knew.

Quincy spent that night at his father's house. The next morning his
mother told him that the author had selected Christmas day on which to
be received by them at dinner, and that she was making unusual
preparations for that event.

"I wish I could invite a few friends to meet her that day," said Quincy.

"You may invite as many as you choose, Quincy, if you will promise to be
here yourself. You have been away from home so much the past year I
hardly anticipate the pleasure of