But then Louise fell upon her with joyful exclamations. “It _was_ a success, Nellie, wasn’t it? A great success! Wasn’t he _great_? Wasn’t it wonderful that father should have found him and brought him in? Wasn’t it just like an answer, Nellie, don’t you think? He kept her away from Carey all the evening, and Carey had a lovely time with Miss Kendall. And Brand said he had a good time, too, and told me he wished you would ask him again. He talked to me a lot while you were talking to the others. He said he’d take us all out in his car sometime if you would go; and he said he thought you were a wonderful sister, and a beautiful girl! He did, Nellie, he said it just like that, ‘Your sister is a _bee-yew_-ti-ful girl’! And he meant it! And it was true, Nellie; you did look just wonderful. Your cheeks were such a pretty pink, and you didn’t have your nose all white like that Clytie. Say, I guess she saw it wasn’t nice to be the way she is, don’t you think she did? I don’t think she had such an awfully nice time either. I don’t think she liked it the way Carey acted. I guess maybe she’ll let him alone some now, and I hope she does. My, I hope she does! I didn’t think he liked her being here, either, did you, Nellie? And say didn’t the water-ice look lovely? And the table was the prettiest thing! Miss Kendall said she never saw such a pretty table. She said you were an artist, Nellie. And Mr. Maxwell, he couldn’t say enough things about the house. Even that Brand said he wished he had a nice cozy home like this. He said his sister didn’t have time to get up birthday parties, or his mother, either; they had to have a whole townful when they had parties, and he just loved it tonight. He said twice he wished you’d ask him again. I guess he means to stick, Nellie; will you like that?” “He’s not so bad,” said Cornelia, patting the little girl’s cheek. “I think maybe we can find a way to help him a little if we try. And I think maybe we ought not to feel so hard toward that poor, foolish girl, either, dearie. Now, come, kitty dear, you ought to be in bed.” “’Deed, no, Nellie dear. I’m going to see the whole thing through,” she chanted, hopping around on the tips of her toes. “We’ve got to wash the dishes. Harry said that Mr. Maxwell was coming back to help, too. We better get some clean aprons ready.” “Where is father, Louie? Did he go up to bed?” “Oh, no, he went with Brand and Carey and Miss Kendall. They asked him, and he seemed real pleased. I shouldn’t wonder if Brand will come back too, and help. He asked me if he might. I said I guessed you wouldn’t care. I thought if he didn’t maybe he’d carry Carey off for all night or something.” Cornelia stooped, and kissed the sweet, anxious little face. “It’s all right, dearie, and I guess everything’s all right. Somehow we came out of an awful place tonight, and I guess God means to see us through.”