t help it, I am so happy. Your father and
mother have asked my mother to let me stay here with you until the measles
have gone. Isn't it lovely of them!"

"Have they? Have they really?" Faith's face was a picture of glad
surprise. "Oh, Irene, how lovely! how jolly! They hadn't said a word to
us. I expect they knew how disappointed we should be, if your mother said
'no.' But she mustn't say 'no '! She _must_ let you stay. It will be
perfectly lovely having you here." And she threw her arms round Irene's
waist and hugged her. "Oh, I am so glad," she sighed, "I don't know what
to do!"

"Keith and Daphne will be wild with envy," said Irene, returning the hug.
"Poor dears, they will have a dull time, I am afraid."

"We will write them letters, to cheer them up, shall we? and send them all
sorts of things--for fun."

Audrey came out and joined them, "Mother has told me," she said.
"Oh, Irene, I am so delighted." Her pleasure shone in her face, and her
speaking eyes. Irene already knew the worst there was to know of the
shabbiness of the home, and Audrey's heart was at rest. "I think, though,
you ought to come in now, and lie down, you know you are not really well
yet."

"You must give me something to do then, sewing, or darning, or something.
I simply could not lie still doing nothing. I am too excited. Haven't
you some stockings that need mending? We always have a basketful at
home."

"I took the basket up to mother a day or two ago," said Audrey.
"We didn't get them done, somehow, so mother said she would try what she
could do. But don't bother about work, Irene. Lie down and read, I am
going up to my room to work for a little while."

"And I must put Joan in her cot for her morning nap," said Faith, taking
that little person from Irene's arms.

Audrey strolled away to her beloved attic, Faith to her bedroom, and Irene
was left alone to go to her bedroom, or the dining-room, as she pleased.
For a few seconds she lay on the sofa in the dining-room, thinking; then
suddenly she got up, and went softly up the stairs to Mrs. Carlyle's room.

"Come in," said the gentle voice, in answer to her knock. "Oh, Irene, is
that you. Are you come up to sit with me? How nice?" The invalid's face
brightened perceptibly.

"I came for the stocking basket," said Irene. "I am ordered to keep
still, but I simply can't while I am so excited. I feel I want to be
doing something to work it off me. Would you min