"Dearest! you have brought nothing but inspiration into my life. You are not to have these sad thoughts. I was not brave enough in the past to show my love, or you might have seen it in a plainer manner--and all would have been different. But we neither of us acted from selfishness. You considered at the time you acted rightly by resisting Ralph's restlessness. God will never blame us for not acting up to any light that was hidden from us. If we have made mistakes in the past God has forgiven us, and therefore we should put the past entirely from us." "So we will," she answered, with a happy smile; "we are both making a new start, and we will let nothing hinder us." When the time came for their return home, there was great excitement among many of the Hadley people. The honeymoon had been considerably lengthened at Stephen's request, for two reasons--first, to give Phebe as long a rest as possible; and secondly, to give time for the beautifying of the old farmhouse on the hill above the town. Bay-windows and a porch had been built out, the front garden had been relaid, several rooms refurnished, and all had been kept a grand secret from Phebe. "I tell you what it is," said Jim Coates, "she shall have a welcome like a duchess, that she shall!" So instead of stepping into a cab as she expected she would do when she came out of the station, Phebe found a carriage-and-pair waiting them, and then at a certain bend of the road a whole body of men suddenly made their appearance, took out the horses, attached ropes to the carriage, and drew it along in triumphant style. Just for a moment Phebe was quite startled; the idea suddenly presented itself that they were being captured by robbers--it was but for an instant--and then the sight of Jim Coates' face, and the triumphant look on Stephen's, made it all clear to her, and partly laughing, partly crying, she managed to exclaim: "It is too much--too much!--don't let them do it, Steve!" But it would have taken more than Steve to hinder that loyal little band of stalwarts, if even he had been willing, which he was not. Wreaths of evergreens were stretched across the road, flags were fluttering everywhere; close to the house was a long banner, with the words in red letters, "Welcome home to the Little Missis and her husband." As the men paused at the gate they had still breath enough to exclaim: "Three cheers for the Little Missis and her husband!" and great hearty "Hip! Hip! Hurrahs!" rang out. "But, Steve----" exclaimed Phebe, as she looked up at the unfamiliar-looking house, and then a second revelation came to her. Steve answered her questioning look with a kiss on her cheek--and then there was another cheer. Bessie and Janie were both standing at the gate, bearing a great basket of roses. Bessie had decided that because she had not thought of scattering roses on the path at the wedding, she would do so at the home-coming.