-as soon as it can possibly be
arranged," she said coming to a sudden decision. "Pack the trunks early
in the morning, and we shall return home in the afternoon to fix this
up. It will be a great comfort to me, nurse, to know that you will stay
with Baby."

"I'll stay as long as you want me, ma'am, and you need have no fears,"
said the woman who was sincerely attached to her charge, and who was
aware that her devotion received ample recognition.

On her way to her own room, Joyce met two embarrassed and happy people
waiting to waylay her with their news.

"Take us into your room for a little while, do, there's a darling, we've
so much to tell you!"

Joyce was hustled into her own room by her little sister with Jack's big
form looming in the rear, and the wonderful tale was told and her
congratulations solicited.

"Of course I saw it coming," said Joyce kissing them both. "You were
like ostriches with your heads in the sand----"

"In the clouds, rather. I have been seeing a little bit of heaven, Mrs.
Meredith," said Jack.

"Now please come back to earth, and tell me your plans, for I have
decided to join my husband as soon as it is possible to get a passage."

"You?--with Baby?" from Kitty.

"No. Baby must stay behind."

"Then that was what gave you a headache? You ought to be ashamed of
yourself to have a headache at the prospect of going back to Ray!" Kitty
teased.

"Say, 'at the prospect of leaving Baby.'"

"Can't you take him?" said Jack. "There are crowds of youngsters of his
age getting rosy and fat in the hills all the summer."

"I shouldn't feel safe about him. He'll be best with Grannie."

"Bravo!" cried Kitty. "Jack's got to go very soon, so we can all three
go together." Jack's face showed intense appreciation.

"You don't mean to say you are thinking of marrying at once?"

"Why not?" from him.

"Of course not," said Kitty ruthlessly. "But as it is not good for you
to travel alone in these exciting times, you _must_ take me with
you--engaged to Jack--and to be married when we have time to look
around. Has anyone any objections?"

"You darling!" gasped Jack.

"Well, let's see what Mother has to say about it," said Joyce. "Meantime
I shall pack a few things before getting to bed."

"Then you won't be so heartless as to turn us out. Come Jack, and let us
talk it over"; and Jack, nothing loath, drew her on his knee in the one
big chair by the window, and for some little time Joyce had cea