usin's as they walked
homeward, "will you let me wear your new hat Sunday?"

"Yes;" assented Bee abstractedly. She was accustomed to having Adele
wear her new things, though Adele did not wish to lend her own.

"And your bracelet?" went on Adele, seeing that Bee was too absorbed to
care what she promised.

"Anything you wish, Adele," answered Beatrice impatiently. "Only let's
hurry. Aunt Annie won't like it if we loiter too long after knowing
about father."

Adele complied willingly, and the rest of the distance was accomplished
quickly. Bee paused at the orchard gate.

"Listen how the birds are singing," she cried. "Do you suppose that they
know that father is coming?"

"You goosey!" laughed her cousin. "They were singing when we went out."

"Not like this, Adele. Just listen!"

A riot of happiness in quivering bursts of song came from the leafy
boughs of the trees. Cardinal, oriole, tawny thrush and gold-finch
seemed to vie with each other in pouring forth the sweetest melody.

"How happy they are," cried Bee. "Almost as happy as I am. And it was
just here that the butterfly lighted on my head. I'll always believe
that omen after this because I did have good news. Why, there is
auntie!"

"What news, children?" called Mrs. Raymond as she came through the trees
toward them.

"The best in the world," answered Beatrice waving her letter excitedly.
"Father is coming home! He will be here by the Fifteenth of June, and we
are to go over to our house to get things ready for him. Will you go?
Will Uncle Henry be able to leave court, and come too?"

"William coming home?" Mrs. Raymond stopped in her surprise. "Is it
possible? What does he say? Let me read the letter."

"Here it is," cried Bee handing it to her. "He is really coming. Oh,
aren't you glad, glad?"

"Indeed I am. For all our sakes, but most of all for yours. I have
thought for some time that it was his duty, and I am glad that he sees
it at last."

"Bee is awfully keen to leave us," spoke Adele reproachfully. "You will
have to live with your father now, Bee, and you won't be with me at
all."

"You won't lose me quite, Adele." Bee was surprised and touched by the
speech. It was not often that her cousin showed so much affection for
her as she had done that day. "The only difference will be that we won't
be in the same house. Walnut Grove is near enough to see each other
often. Won't we have good times together? I am so happy!"

"Henry will be p