s. Half-a-dozen times a day Lettice and
Norah said to each other, "What will Hilary be doing now?" And when a
letter came, telling the plans of the next few days, they followed her
movements hour by hour, telling each other, "Now she will be driving
into town!" "Now she will be looking at the pictures!" "Now she will
be dressing for the evening!" When the day of the traveller's return
arrived, there was quite a bustle of excitement in the home. Lettice
ordered Hilary's favourite puddings for dinner, Norah gave the drawing-
room a second dusting in the afternoon, while Miss Briggs put on her cap
with the pink ribbons, and dressed Geraldine in her best frock. They
were all in the hall, ready to receive the travellers, as the fly from
the station drove up to the door, and while Mr Bertrand stayed without
to pay the driver, Hilary lost no time in hurrying indoors. Within the
first two minutes the sisters noticed a change in her manner. Her voice
seemed to have a new tone; when Miss Briggs held out a welcoming hand,
she extended her own at an elevation which made the good lady stare, and
even while kissing the girls, her eyes were roving round the hall with
an expression of dissatisfaction.

"Why have you not lighted all the lamps?" she inquired, and when Lettice
replied in amazement that there were as many lamps as usual, she
shrugged her shoulders, and muttered something about "inky darkness."
If Mr Bertrand had not appeared at that moment it would be difficult to
say what would have happened, but he came rushing in like a breeze of
fresh, wintry air, seizing each of the girls in turn, and folding them
in a bear-like hug.

"Well--well--well--here we are again! Glad to be back in the old home.
How are you, dear? How are you, pet? Miss Briggs, I see you are
flourishing! How have all these young people been behaving while I was
away? What about dinner? I'm so hungry that I shall eat the Mouse in
desperation if I am kept waiting. Well, little Mouse, glad to see your
father back again, eh? Come upstairs with me while I change my coat for
dinner."

It was like another house when the cheery, bustling master was at home,
and Lettice and Norah forgot their passing annoyance in rejoicing over
his return. During the evening, however, Hilary managed to give offence
more than once. She kept frowning to herself as she sat at the head of
the table, and looking up and down with a discontented air which was
very exasp