Part 40 (2/2)

said Brenda

”On the contrary,” said Bob Cochrane, ”I hope your aunt will feel encouraged to return before long What was the compact, Peter? She was to come back and be burnt as a witch, wasn't she?”

”Not yet awhile,” said Mr Chase gravely ”You can't expect us to part with her for some little tienially

And then he and Dorothy just glanced at each other and laughed with a strange kind of joyousness that mystified the Dixons; but Eustace looked hard at Nesta and nodded ard and drawn; it wore its old, habitual expression of steadfast happiness

The party did not break up till ”disgracefully late,” as Mr Chase put it Peter was carried by his mother asleep to bed The twins and the Dixons felt so wide awake they fancied they would not close an eye all night

Mr Chase laughed when he heard the story of the Sevres ornament

”I'm not surprised you were startled,” he said kindly; ”but please try to have sohost youhis twin to her door, ”what are you going to do now? Shall you tell ned astonishment

”Why, that you are miserable, and won't stay, and all that stuff,”

was the reply

”Of course not, silly,” Nesta retorted ”Any one can see everything is going to be quite different now Aunt Dorothy has co tone, and they both laughed

”Good-night, you two,” said a voice along the passage, and Herbert turned off into his own rooht,” said Brenda, bearing down upon them, brush and comb in hand

Eustace passed on

”It is all different already,” he said softly ”I think Bob has been right all along--Aunt Dorothy has bewitched us, every one”

THE END