Together they went into the house. It looked bare, queer. The china ornaments on the mantelpiece, the clock with Time and his scythe, once so familiar, had become not only strange to Beth, but grotesque. Nothing seemed real; neither the life she had been living, nor this old life she had lived before. Ella Lowndes, who had been watching the arrival behind a drawn curtain, came to meet and hug Beth. Tabby came, too, her tail erect, her whole air revealing pride in the yellow kitten that gamboled behind her, trying to reach her proud tail. In a little while Janie came running, breathless, wild with joy. News travels fast in places like Aunt Rebecca’s village. Janie had heard that Beth Bristead was back. The little girls hugged each other in a transport of joy in meeting. However dear and beautiful Natalie was, Janie was Beth’s lifelong chum; there really could be but one Janie! Beth was so glad to see her that it made her forget the red table-cloth which had been distressing her in a vague way. Later Beth and Janie sat on the upper step in the April sunset, their arms around each other, their heads leaned lovingly close. “Tell me all about everything,” Janie ordered Beth. “Not to-night; I can’t. It seems so queer to be here, yet it doesn’t seem as if New York was true, one bit. I feel as though I had been dreaming,” Beth said. “Beth, I don’t see how you ever, ever came back!” whispered Janie. “Lydia Tappan told mama to-day that she had written you; that was after we heard you had come, though.” “I had to come. You see this ring? That shows I’m not dreaming. A prince gave me that.” She nodded hard, in response to Janie’s amazed stare. “Truly; a real prince! It’s for an Order. Natalie, Alys, Dirk and I belong. It’s the Order of the Strong Hearted. When we have to choose something, we’re vowed to choose what’s right, not what we want--unless we happen to want the right. I had to choose to come back. But, oh, Janie, I’m awfully, dreadfully glad to see you!” “Well, I guess I am!” echoed Janie. They hugged each other all over again. “Sitting here like Java sparrows?” said Aunt Rebecca coming out. “Put this shawl around you. I guess it’ll cover you both, sitting so close! I declare, it doesn’t seem as though it could be you, Beth! Your wonder-winter is over, as you called it. But I guess I could quote Shakespeare if I had a mind to: ‘Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by the son of York.’ Only it’s a little daughter! Are you really home again, Beth?” “Yes, Aunt Rebecca, I’m home again! I’m so glad you’re glad I came! You _are_ glad, aren’t you, Aunt Rebecca?” asked Beth. “Yes, Beth, I’m glad,” said Aunt Rebecca. “I like to have you around.” FAMOUS STORIES FOR GIRLS _By Charlotte M. Vaile_ _The Orcutt Girls_ OR, ONE TERM AT THE ACADEMY. 316 pp. _Sue Orcutt_ A SEQUEL TO “THE ORCUTT GIRLS.” 335 pp.