came. She was intensely loyal to her father, and praise
of him was sweet to her ears.

"People say that papa is a good doctor," she replied frankly. "I hope
he'll be able to help Billy. Anyway, we're all so glad to have somebody
living here again. It's ages since the house has been occupied."

Mrs. Farrington smiled.

"I should judge so from the general air of mustiness I find. I rejoice
in all this bright, warm weather, so Will can live out of doors. The
house feels fairly clammy, and I don't like to have him in it, more than
I can help. I hope you are going to be very neighborly, all of you, this
coming winter."

Theodora laughed.

"All five of us? Remember, you aren't used to such a horde, and we may
overrun you entirely. You'd better arrange to take us on the instalment
plan."

"We're not timid," Billy asserted. "Really, I think we can stand it,
Miss Teddy."

Theodora shook her head.

"You've not seen Babe yet, and you little realize what she is. In fact,
you've hardly seen any of us. I want you to know Hope. You'll adore her;
boys always do."

"In the meantime," Mrs. Farrington interposed; "I want to know something
about--" she paused for the right word,--"about your new mother. Some
one told me she was at Vassar. That is my college, you know. What was
her maiden name?"

"Holden. Elizabeth Holden."

"Bess Holden!" Mrs. Farrington started up excitedly. "I wonder if it can
be Bess. What does she look like?"

"I've only seen her once."

"Was she tall and dark, with great blue eyes?"

"Yes, I think so, and I remember that her eyebrows weren't just alike;
one was bent more than the other."

"It must be Bess." Mrs. Farrington rose and moved to and fro across the
lawn. Theodora watched her admiringly, noticing her firm, free step and
the faultless lines of her tailor-made gown. She felt suddenly young and
crude and rather shabby. Then Mrs. Farrington paused beside her. "If it
is Bess Holden, Miss Teddy, your father is a happy man, and I am a happy
woman to have stumbled into this neighborhood. She was the baby of our
class, and one of the finest girls in it. When she comes, ask her--No,
don't ask her anything. It is eighteen years since we met, and I want to
see if she'll remember me. Don't tell her anything about me, please."

A week later, the McAlisters were sitting under one of the trees on the
hill, a little away from the house. It was a bright golden day, and
Theodora had lured them outside, d