"You and I would be happy in a walnut shell," she said, laughing, and wiping her tear-stained cheeks with her handkerchief. "I think you would feel leaving this house more than I." "I dare say I should," said the Admiral; "but my training in the Service has taught me to view change as promotion, and if it be to an unpopular station now, our Great Commander makes no mistakes." He laid his hand caressingly on Sidney's soft hair as he spoke. And then Sidney's eyes glowed with understanding and appreciation, but she could not trust herself to speak. At length she broke the silence. "I will be thankful for our mercies," she said in her bright natural voice. "Why, there was an awful time soon after she made her first appearance, when I thought she was setting her cap at you. And imagine—don't laugh—let us imagine my feelings when you told me you were giving me such a stepmother. Oh, dad dear, a house—even a dear old house like this—is nothing to give up—nothing! But don't let us wait for her to humble us. My pride is up in arms. I don't think we are called upon to make ourselves into doormats for her feet! Don't say that will be necessary!" "I think we must wait and see," said the Admiral very firmly. And Sidney dropped her head upon his knee again and was very silent. They did not talk much more about it. Both their hearts were full of the impending change in their lives, and each was trying to discover bits of cheer which might be passed on to the other. At last Sidney moved. "I must go, dad. I suppose I had better write a note for Uncle Ted to give her. Will you write, too?" "Just a line, perhaps. I have been thinking, dear, that she may prefer a house in town. I am sure she will find this very dull." "Yes," said Sidney bravely, "perhaps she will. In any case, they are not married yet, and 'there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.'" She left the room, and did not take long to write her note: "DEAR MRS. NORMAN, "Uncle Ted has just told me the news. I hope you and he will be very happy together. He has been a most kind uncle to me ever since I can remember him, and I am glad for his sake if he has got someone besides us to love and care for him now. Will you come up to dine with us to-morrow night? "Yours very sincerely, "SIDNEY URQUHART." She went to the workshop and gave this into her uncle's hand. He looked a little wistfully at her. "I hope my news has not annoyed you—worried you?" "Oh, Uncle Ted, why should it? I don't grudge you your happiness. If I was sure, quite sure, that it would be for your lasting happiness, I would be delighted." "You have my word that it will. And if Ethel comes to-morrow, you will be nice to her, will you not? She has an idea you don't like her, and no one has ever disliked her before, she says." "Is Gavine going to-morrow?" "Yes, I—I think so. I heard her mother say something about it, but I did not take much notice."