"To father, of course," was the emphatic answer--at Ellice's amazed repetition of the words. "You are going to spoil all his happiness by taking up this role of being injured. Dad will, of course, want you to like her--the message in his letter is plain enough, 'I hope you will do your best to give us both a welcome'--and all I can say is, whatever _you_ do, I mean to go home and receive them. Come on, Sis, pull yourself together! It doesn't say much for your love for dad, if you set out to cause him trouble like this, and spoil his happiness. Be nice; very likely she won't be half bad. I expect she dreads seeing us quite as much as we dread seeing her. What's the honour of keeping smiling only when things are pleasant? Come on--get over it. I'm off; it's nearly time they arrived." There was silence for a moment, and Bob stood fidgeting by his sister, then in half-disgusted tones he said: "I can't wait any longer for you; if you won't come--you _won't_." And with a quick stride he turned and made his way down the avenue towards home. For a few minutes longer the struggle for victory went on in Ellice Medhurst's heart, then suddenly she jumped up with the muttered words, "I'll try; Bob must be right." She ran lightly down the path after him, and caught him up at the edge of the wood. "I'm coming with you," she whispered breathlessly, as she grasped his arm. "Well done, young 'un!" he answered. "Come on, we must run, or we shall be late." * * * * * "Here they come!" shouted Bob, as two figures turned into the drive--a smothered exclamation escaped him as he rushed to the front door. Ellice did not follow immediately, her knees were shaking, and she felt strung up to such a pitch of mental excitement she hardly felt capable of following Bob at first. Then suddenly she heard her father's voice saying, "Where's Ellice?" The reaction came immediately; she flew to the door, and threw herself blindly into her father's arms with a smothered sob. "Why, ladybird, what is it?" he said, stroking her hair gently. "Look--have you no word of welcome for my wife?" "Ellice, dear child," said Margaret's voice gently. The girl started, raising her head, and looked wonderingly into the sweet face of her old governess. Then the great fact dawned upon her mind--Margaret Woodford, whom she loved, was the new stepmother she had dreaded. "You?--_You?_" she exclaimed, clasping the hands extended towards her. "Oh, how lovely!" Tears of joy glistened in Margaret's eyes. "I think you can see the reward of other years now, can't you?" whispered her husband, and Margaret did see, and was wondrously content. * * * * * Two months passed quickly away--two months of unalloyed happiness to Margaret in her new life. It was her birthday, and she stood looking out upon the frost-clothed lawn glistening in a bath of winter sunshine, waiting for the others to come down to breakfast. It was November--cold, still, and bright.