A little sigh left her lips. Later on she unpacked her trunks and arranged her room according to her liking. At luncheon the little girls appeared, expecting to meet their father at it. Anstice told them that he was away for the day. They sat together, whispering and giggling. Then suddenly Josie addressed Anstice: "Are you afraid of ghosts? There's one in your room. We think it's mother." "I shouldn't be afraid of her, or of any other spirit," said Anstice very gently. "You wait and see. Our mother will be furious to find you in her room. You'd better get out." "My dear Josie," said Anstice, "no one could drive me out of my room. And as to your mother, I am sure she would only be too thankful to me for coming here to give you a more comfortable and, I hope, a happier home." "We don't want you," said Georgie sullenly. "Look here," said Anstice impulsively, "I tell you what we will do. We will have a 'pow-wow' to-morrow evening in the nursery. Do you know what a 'pow-wow' is?" "Some old rubbishy thing!" muttered Josie scornfully. "It's what the Red Indians have. They sit round a fire, all the heads and chiefs are invited, and then they talk and talk and talk. Every one can have a say." "What do they talk about?" inquired Georgie, a gleam of interest in her deep blue eyes. "Whether they're going to have peace or war. It is settled once for all. Ruffie must take part in it. Shall we all dress up as Red Indians to make it real? And the evenings are chilly, we'll have a delicious drink that I know how to make. I used to make it for the school children in my old home where we had treats. And I call it 'Honeybunny'!" "You're trying to make us like you," said Josie deliberately; "and we don't want to like you." "Don't tell me that now. Tell me to-morrow evening. You will have the chance of saying anything you like then. I shall want you to listen to me, and then I will listen to you. Do you agree?" "We'll talk to Ruffie about it, and see what he says." But there was a little sparkle in Josie's eyes as she spoke. Anstice felt that she had already scored a point. When lunch was over, the little girls tore up to the nursery, and Anstice went out of doors. She crossed the lawn and had a few words with the old gardener, Stephen Cross, who seemed delighted to see her. "Ay," he responded to some pleasant words of hers, "th' 'ouse ha' wanted a mistress these mony years, an' a mistress who'll bide in it, an' ha' an interest in it."