A door was opened. It led into their mother's room. Marcia stood outside. "Molly, darling," she said, "you come first." She took Molly's hand; she led her round the screen and brought her up to her mother. Just for a moment the girl shut her eyes. There flashed before her mental vision the remembrance of that mother as she had lain pale and panting and struggling for life when she had left her, pretending that she was only sleeping. But now Mrs Aldworth was sitting bolt upright on her sofa, and the room was sweet and fresh and in perfect order, and a nice-looking young woman in nurse's uniform stood up when the girls entered the room. "I will leave you, Mrs Aldworth, and go and get my tea," she said. "You will be glad to welcome your young ladies. But remember not too much talking, please." Mrs Aldworth raised her faded eyes; she looked full at Molly. "My little girl!" "Mothery; oh, mothery!" The girl dropped on her knees. "Gently, Molly. Sit down there. Tell mother what a right good time you have had while you have been away," said Marcia. "I am ever so much better," said Mrs Aldworth, in a cheerful tone. "I am very glad you were with the Carters. You like them so much." "Yes, mother," said Molly, and then she added, and there was real truth and real sincerity in her tone--"I like best of all to be at home; I like best of all to be with you." The words were spoken with an effort, but they were true. Molly did feel just like that at the moment. Mrs Aldworth smiled, and a very pretty colour came into her cheeks. "I have been quite ill," she said. "I have been ill and weak for an extraordinarily long time. At least so Marcia says; and Nurse Davenant is quite a tyrant in her way, and Dr Anstruther too; but to tell the truth, darling, I have never had an ache or pain, and I can't imagine why people make such a fuss. But there, darling, I am glad to see you and to have you back again. You'll come and sit with your old mother sometimes, won't you, and you won't think it a dreadful trial?" "Never again," said Molly. "Go, Molly dear, for the present," said Marcia, "and send Ethel in." Molly went almost on tiptoe across the room. She got behind the screen and opened the door. "Go in," she said in a whisper; "she's looking wonderful." "Don't whisper, girls," said Marcia. "Come right in, Ethel." Ethel came in and also kissed her mother, and told her that she looked wonderfully well, and that she too was glad to be back, but she was more self-restrained than her sister, and more self-assured, putting a curb upon herself.