ed out of her life! And though she could not have put it into
words it was the tender companionship of childhood, of kindred tastes
and eager loves. In the desert of Bethany Home all these emotions had
been rigorously repressed. It was best for girls not to expect too
much in the homes of other people, the little Cinderella whose place
was in the chimney corner.

"Marilla," called the voice of Mrs. Warren, in a sort of joyous tone,
"Dr. Richards has come."

She almost flew down stairs and he clasped her in his arms.

"I am so happy," she cried in a voice tremulous with emotion. "It
seems such a long, long while since morning so much has happened, and
Mrs. Warren is to be my Aunt Grace, she said so, and I have three
cousins!"

Her face was alight with happiness.

"I wonder if you would get homesick if we did not go back to Newton
until some time next week?"

"Oh, no. I shouldn't get homesick at all! But I couldn't stay away
from fairy godmother a _long_ while. If I didn't have her, Aunt Grace
would take me, and the girls are just splendid!"

"I've been to a hospital this afternoon and I want to learn some new
things to take home with me, so I will write. You must write, too.
I've brought you some envelopes addressed and stamped. Why do you
smile?"

"I was thinking of the letter I wrote to you in the summer, and I had
to beg everything to write with, and Edith has such a nice portable
writing desk, and the girls have portfolios, and they all go to
school. Oh, it must be splendid to go to school with a crowd of nice
girls and have a lovely teacher."

She had been leading him through the parlor. Mrs. Warren met them and
he went on in the sitting room, apologizing for his early appearance.

"Oh, I want you to come in and see your ward whenever you can, and I
shall beg for quite a visit from her."

"That will suit me. I feel that I have grown a little rusty and want
to look into some new methods. What a wonderful city it is! It quite
shames a country doctor."

"I suppose so," smiling. "You should come in often. Mr. Warren will be
home presently and glad to meet you. Will you excuse me a few moments?
This is my eldest daughter, Edith."

"And can't the others come?" asked Marilla.

"Why, yes, if you like."

Dr. Richards was used to children. He thought he liked girls the best,
and this was an attractive circle. How Marilla was enjoying it. Her
eyes quivered with flashes of pleasure. Yes, children needed othe