But that gentleman, thinking he had given his former friend time to get over her shock, came forward, and very soon managed to win her back to her old friendliness, as he gave her his arm to take her in to dinner. Poor Vava! she had so looked forward to this dinner; it had turned out so very different to what she had expected, and no one said anything about the play; so she made up her mind that they were going to 'fuss' over Stella all the evening and give up the play. But Lord Rothery came to the rescue. 'I propose an amendment to the evening's programme. I suppose Jamie is going to cry off his engagement with me, so I vote you take me to the theatre in Stella's place, and leave her to rest here.' This seemed a very good plan, and evidently suited the two most concerned; and to Vava's relief they started in good time for _Henry VIII._, and in spite of a little sore feeling at heart, she managed to enjoy it very much. The Joneses drove Vava home after the theatre, and there she found 'nursie' and Stella sitting by the kitchen fire; and even Vava, much though she had admired her sister, thought she had never seen her look so beautiful as she did to-night. 'All's well that ends well, my bairns, and he's a braw young laddie,' said old nursie, lapsing into Scotch. 'Has he been to see you?' asked Vava. 'Yes, and wanted to know if I would trust him with my bairn. Eh, that I would!' she said. 'And what am I to do?' cried Vava, and burst into tears. Stella had her arms round her sister in a moment. 'It won't make any difference, and we are going to stay where we are till the end of the year, and then you and nursie shall come and live with us,' she explained. 'We shall see,' put in nursie, who had her own ideas upon the subject, and proved to be right. CHAPTER XXIX. THINGS STRAIGHTEN OUT. It is three months later, a lovely evening in June, and the back garden of No. 2 Heather Road was a blaze of fine flowers, and under the apple-tree in the centre of the lawn sat four girls in dresses which looked a little too elaborate and costly for a quiet tea in a little suburban villa. So apparently thought the thrifty old housekeeper, who came out in a plain alpaca gown, and said, 'Ah, my bairns, but you'll soil your beautiful frocks sitting on those garden-seats!' 'We can't possibly wear our ordinary frocks to-day, nursie; it would be a dreadful come down. Why! you have taken off your "silken gown," and it's Stella's wedding-day!' cried Vava merrily. Evidently she had forgiven her sister the surprise she had given her on that eventful breaking-up day, for she looked the picture of happiness. 'And do you think I'm going to cook in a silk gown, whatever the day? No, indeed! it's safely packed away, as yours ought to be, young leddies!' 'We are going back to the workaday world to-morrow, nursie; let us stop in fairyland for to-day,' said Eva.