ock. Three long hours before he comes! What shall I
do?"

"It will take nearly all that time to dress," remarked Adele rising.

"How do you manage it, Adele? I need only fifteen minutes."

"Which explains your usual fly-away look," observed her aunt quietly.
"It would do no harm to expend more pains upon your toilet, Beatrice. A
girl cannot be too careful of her personal appearance. This evening of
all others you should desire to look your best."

"I do, auntie; so I will begin to get ready right now," replied Bee,
following her cousin out of the room.

It was the Fifteenth of June, and everything was in readiness for Doctor
Raymond's homecoming. He had always objected to a tenant in his home, so
the dwelling had been left in charge of caretakers. Each year, however,
Walnut Grove, as the old vine-clad house was called, had enjoyed a
thorough house-cleaning under Mrs. Raymond's supervision; but never
before had it undergone such a furious renovation. Paint and floors were
scoured; walls swept; beds shaken and sunned, and furniture polished.
The grounds, too, had received attention as the neat appearance of lawn
and garden could testify. The last day of waiting left nothing to do to
beguile the dragging hours.

Mrs. Raymond settled herself for a quiet time after the departure of the
girls, but she was not long left alone. Her calm was shortly broken by
the reappearance of her niece.

"I've been just as long as ever I could be," cried Bee, skimming lightly
across the room to the lady's side. "I've brushed my hair until the
roots are visible, and if there is a button unfastened anywhere about me
it would take a search warrant to find it. Will I do, auntie?"

Her aunt suppressed a smile, and looked at her critically. The girl was
looking unusually well. She wore a gown of shimmering white which clung
to her lithesome figure in soft folds. A single red rose nestled
caressingly in her hair and supplied the touch of color needful.
Excitement lent a flush to her cheek and an added lustre to her eye so
that she appeared animated and even brilliant.

"You never looked so well in your life, Bee," approved Mrs. Raymond.
"Why, you are almost beautiful."

"As if I could ever be that," laughed Bee, giving her a bearish hug and
a resounding kiss. "Although, if anything in the world could transform
me into a beauty it would be father's coming. There, Aunt Annie! I am
going to leave you in peace. I am going into the garden and