Marcia opened her eyes and shut them again. Then she opened them wide. Was it a dream after all? Had she really been at delightful Frankfort, at the gay school with its gay life not two days ago? And was she now-- what she had been doing the greater part of her life--walking by her father's side, down the well-known road, turning round by the well-known corner, seeing the row of neat, dull, semi-detached houses, the little gardens in front, the little gates that most of them never kept shut, but which clapped and clapped with the wind; the little hall doors, made half of glass, to look artistic, and to let in a little more cold than they would otherwise have done, a picture of the little nail, the dingy linoleum on the floor; the look of the whole place? By-and-by they reached their own gate; of course it needed mending. "Oh, father," Marcia could not help saying, "you ought to see to that." "Yes, but Molly has put it off week after week. She said you'd do it when you came home." "I'll manage it. But how is mother? Is she very bad?" "She is worse than usual; she requires more care, constant attention. There was no one else who would suit," he added. "Come along now, I'll tell you all presently." "You don't want me to see her to-night, do you?" "Not unless you wish to. She is upstairs." "Does she know I have come?" "Yes, she knows; at least she hopes with the rest of us that you have come. You had better run in and see her for a few minutes; you needn't begin your duties until to-morrow." "Thank God for that reprieve," thought Marcia. The next instant there was a loud clamour in the hall, and three exceedingly pretty girls, varying in age from fourteen to eighteen, bustled out and surrounded Marcia. "You have come! What an old dear you are! Now you'll tell us all about Germany. Oh, isn't it fun!" Nesta's voice was the most ringing. She was the youngest of the girls, and her hair was not yet put up. She was wearing it in a long plait down her back. It curled gracefully round her pretty temples. She had sweet blue eyes and a caressing manner; she was rather untidy in her dress, but there was a little attempt at finery about her. The other two sisters were more commonplace. Molly was very round and fat, with rosy cheeks, small, dark eyes and a good-humoured mouth, a gay laugh and a somewhat tiresome habit of giggling on the smallest provocation. Ethel was the exact counterpart of Molly, but not quite so good-looking. These three girls were Marcia's step-sisters. In the distance there appeared the towering form of a young man with very broad shoulders, and a resolute face. He was Marcia's own brother. She gave one really glad cry when she saw him, and flung herself into his arms. "Good old girl! I said you'd have the spunk to do your duty," he whispered in her ear, and he patted her on the shoulder.