re glad, but what can we do to show it?"

"Couldn't we decorate the house," said Nancy, "like Christmas?"

"It would be better than nothing," said Pennie, but she evidently did
not think it much of an idea.

"What do you call those things that emperors drive under when they come
back from wars?" asked Nancy suddenly.

"Laurels," suggested Pennie doubtfully.

"No, no," said Nancy, "you know what I mean. I've heard you read about
them to Miss Grey in history."

"Canopies," said Pennie after deep thought. But that was wrong too.
Nancy bit her lips with impatience.

"It's something to do with an arch," she said, "only there's another
word before it."

"_I_ know," said Pennie, "you mean a triumphant arch."

"That's it," exclaimed Nancy with great relief. "Well, why couldn't we
make a triumphant arch over the white gate for them to drive under?"

Pennie approved of this.

"If the boys would help," she added; "you and I couldn't do it alone, we
shouldn't have time. And besides we should want their hammers and
things."

"We must ask them at once," said Nancy springing up. "They must be
tired of staring at that stupid museum."

The boys were quite ready, for there really was nothing more to do to
the museum, and they were glad of a change. The next person to be
appealed to was Andrew, but here came an unexpected difficulty. Andrew
would not allow a single twig to be cut while master was away.

"But we must have ever-greens," insisted Ambrose, "it's to make a
triumphant arch for father and mother."

But Andrew was firm. They might make as many triumphant arches as they
liked after master was at home, but he couldn't cut ever-greens without
orders.

"It wouldn't be a bit of use afterwards," said David. "People never
have triumphant arches _after_ they get back. We must have some now."

"Not from me, Master David," was Andrew's answer, and he left the
children in a downcast group and went on his way. Poor Nancy was almost
in tears. It was very hard to have her plan so suddenly destroyed, but
she knew that Andrew was not to be persuaded to change his mind.

"It's a shame!" she exclaimed with heated cheeks. "I'm sure mother and
father would like us to have them. I shall go and ask Miss Grey."

She ran off towards the house, and Pennie followed more slowly. The
boys, easily consoled by remembering that there was still the museum,
gave up the triumphant arch without any more effort, and went about