"Oh, not very much," said Charles, making a pretence of eating slowly, to conceal his hunger. "Alfred, do be quiet!--don't you know mamma is ill? Kate, sit down." "There's Edina!" cried Alfred, clattering out to meet her in the passage. She came in, looking pleased and gay, with sundry parcels in her hand. Kate and Alfred jumped round her. "How have you sped, Edina?" asked Mrs. Raynor. "Has George Atkinson given Robert the presentation?" "No; he will not give it him." "I feared so. He must be altogether a hard-hearted man. May Heaven have mercy upon us!" "It will, it will," said Edina. "I have always told you so." She was undoing the papers. The young eyes regarding them were opened to their utmost width. Had a fairy been out with Edina? Buns, chocolate, a jar of marmalade, a beautiful pat of butter, and--what could be in that other parcel? "Open it, Charley," said Edina. He had left his supper to look on with the others, and did as he was told. Out tumbled a whole cargo of mutton chops. Ah, that was the best sight of all, dear as cakes and sweets are to the young! Mrs. Raynor could see nothing clearly for her glistening tears. "I thought you could all eat a mutton chop for supper, Mary. I know you had scarcely any dinner." "Are we _all_ to have one?" demanded Alfred, believing Aladdin's lamp must really have been at work. "Yes, all. Charley and mamma can have two if they like. Don't go on with your miserable supper, Charles." "Robert," cried Kate, flying to the door, "Edina's come home, and she has brought up so many things, and a mutton chop apiece." Why, there he was, the audacious little Bob, peeping in in his white nightgown! "A _whole_ mutton chop!" cried he, amazed at the magnitude of the question. "Yes, a whole one, dear," said Edina turning to him. "And not only for to-night. Every day you shall have a whole mutton chop, or something as good." "And puddings too!" stammered Kate, the idea of the fairy becoming a certainty. "And puddings too," said Edina. "Ah, children, I bring you such news! Did I not always tell you that God would remember us in His own good time? Mary, are you listening? Very soon you will all be back again at Eagles' Nest." Charles's heart beat wildly. He looked at Edina to see if she were joking, his eyes fearfully earnest. "I am telling you the truth, dear ones: Eagles' Nest is to be yours again, and our struggles and privations are over. George Atkinson never meant to keep it from you. You are to go down to him on Saturday, Charley, and stay over Sunday." "I'll never abuse him again," said Charley, smiling to hide a deeper emotion. "But--my best coat is so shabby, you know, Edina. I am ashamed of it at church." "Perhaps you may get another between now and then," nodded Edina. "What's _this?_" cried Kate, touching the last of the parcels. "A bottle of wine for mamma. She will soon look so fit and rosy that we shan't know her, for we shall have nothing to do but nurse her up."