ready to chatter and
question and wonder over the events which had taken place and which
were to take place. So the weeks went so quickly that it seemed no
time before they were busy making preparations for going to their new
home. By the end of the summer they were cozily settled in the white
house, and had found corners for gardens and places for their pets.
Uncle Justus made frequent trips to see them, and was consulted on
such grave subjects as whether a gray kitten or a black one were the
prettier, and what flowers would look best in a certain little garden
bordered around with pebbles. He was taken to see Mrs. MacDonald, and
actually seemed pleased to meet Moggins again--a fact which no one
appeared to believe when Edna told it. But, then, no one understood
Uncle Justus quite as well as this little niece of his.

Aunt Elizabeth is much more of a favorite than her husband with people
generally; she is so bland and affable. She too enjoys an occasional
trip to the country, and is always interested in telling Margaret how
matters progress at the Home of the Friendless.

Later in the year three little girls, with the sister of one of them,
started together to school, going to the city in the morning and
returning when school was out; but during the winter months, when the
days were shorter, they all remained under Uncle Justus's roof, from
Monday until Friday, as Agnes had done--Agnes, who was then going to
college. The Porter boys--nice little fellows--are great friends of
Edna's brothers, and often come out to spend Saturday with Frank and
Charlie. Louis sometimes comes for a holiday, and shows himself much
more manly; he is gradually outgrowing his peevishness and
selfishness, so that he bids fair to be a fine man.

The three little girls get along famously. It was whispered among the
school children that Margaret was an "orphan asylum girl," and there
were some who disdained her in consequence, but Edna's love and
loyalty, with Dorothy's help, came to the rescue, and now Margaret
MacDonald is one of the most popular girls in the school. She is so
bright and amiable; moreover, the little romance about her being lost
and found gives a zest to the friendships she has formed.

Celia has her own friends, and is a great stronghold for the three
little girls when matters go wrong with them, as they must sometimes
do. She has never found the way to the heart of Uncle Justus as Edna
has, but it is unlikely that any on