st do. But I shall come home for a
week in the summer, if it be a possible thing; and, in the meantime, I
am not going to forget my mother, I hope."

"Nor your mother's God, I trust, dear Jem," said Mrs Inglis, as she let
him go.

Who could tell all the labour and pains bestowed on the arrangement and
adornment of the house they had never ceased to love? David came home
early in May, and did his part. Ten times a day Jessie wished for
Violet to help with her willing and skillful hands. They had Debby for
all that required strength. She had fallen very easily into her old
place, and was to stay in it, everybody hoped.

Sarah and Charlotte Oswald were to form part of their family for the
next year, and Violet's work was to be to teach them and her sisters,
and two little orphan girls who had been committed by their guardian to
Mrs Inglis's care. But Violet's work was not to be begun till
September, and after the house was in perfect order, ready to receive
expected visitors, there were two months for happy leisure before that
time came.

Violet and Jem were coming home together, and Sarah and Charlotte were
expected at the same time. Jem was to stay for ten days only. By dint
of some planning on their part, and much kindness on the part of Mr
Caldwell, Philip and Frank were to have their holiday together, and they
were to accompany the rest to Gourlay. At first it was intended to make
their coming a surprise, but mindful of certain possible contingencies
in Debby's department, Violet overruled this, and the people at home
were permitted to have the pleasure of expecting and preparing for them,
as well as the pleasure of receiving them, and wonderful things were
accomplished to that end.

The last night had come. The children had gone away to the woods to get
some sprigs from a beautiful vine, without which Jessie did not consider
her floral decorations perfect, and Mrs Inglis and David were awaiting
them alone. They were in the garden, which was a very pretty place, and
never prettier than on that evening, David thought. Ned's gardening was
a great improvement on his of the old days, he willingly acknowledged.
Indeed, since their coming back to Gourlay, Ned had given himself to the
arranging and keeping of the garden, in a way that proved the possession
of true artistic taste, and also of that which is as rare, and as
necessary to success in gardening and in other things--great
perseverance. His success