Part 15 (1/2)

”We didn't look under the beds,” said Nesta

”Silly,” said Eustace ”As if a black-felloould have stopped to be looked for under a bed”

”Yes--that's no go,” said Robertson; and just at that e sound fro by that every one juht Mrs Orban back to her senses far quicker than any of good Mrs Robertson's restoratives, for it was the voice of Becky herself

”Good gracious!” exclaimed all the women, after the first shock of surprise was over

”My patience,” said Robertson, and down they all went on their hands and knees like a party of kangaroos, peering under the bed

There lay Becky, rosy with sleep, safe and sound, with puckered face and plaintive voice, evidently wondering what all the fuss was about

They hauled her from under the bed, and placed her on her ht like a young owl

”Why,” said Nesta, ”she must have tumbled out of bed in her sleep, and rolled over underneath”

”So she reed every one

”That was the noise Peter heard,” Eustace said

”Of course it was,” said every one except Mrs Orban; and she said, as she bent her face over the baby in her arms,--

”Oh, you dreadful children! Have you a conspiracy a to harden in to wish your father would cohed a little, and it soundedSo kind Mrs Robertson hurried every one off to bed, because she said Mrs Orban must be quite worn out

Eustace was so upset by his et to sleep for hours They seemed to hold a reproach specially for himself--for had he not been the first to terrify his ood record to present to his father; and he had meant to be such a stand-by and comfort With all his heart he echoed Mrs

Orban's wish He had dreaded his father's going away; he longed for his return

The very next day the as fulfilled News cahted the evening before; she was in the bay By reat excitement was reached

Every one had wondered a hundred ti would be like--ords would be said As a matter of fact, when the ti at all except Mr Orban, who exclai, what is theill”

But Mrs Orban stopped hi later on Meanwhile she nearly wept for joy over thewith Aunt Dorothy, and was far too happy to remember or speak of the distresses of the past week or so

The children hung back shyly and stared at the new-coirl, dressed, Nesta afterwards commented, just like a person in a story book, so dainty was she

Dorothy Chase was not at all like Mrs Orban She was certainly pretty, but theabout her was her expression, so vivacious was it, so keenly interested and alert She was a great contrast to the people aood deal of the enthusiasm of life out of people--even the children were subject to lassitude

They looked a quiet enough set as Miss Chase cast a quick searching glance around her after greeting her sister, and there flashed through her mind a contrast between theo in England--the children of another sister, orphans who lived with their grandparents in the old hoh, ”who is going to speak to , all in an untidy row, Becky, with one finger in heron to Nesta's skirt

To the new-cos The prints that the girls were dressed in were rather washed out; Peter had outgrown his suit They were ill-clad, shy, and aard