t least.

To her husband and children, and even to Mary and Job, to have 'mother'
about amongst them again was a cause for such rejoicing that they hardly
knew how to express it.

Early in the morning Debby and Tom were up and knocking at Miss Babbs's
shop door before Miss Babbs was fully dressed or had raked the ashes out
of her kitchen stove.

"Why, Master Tom," she cried, somewhat ruffled by the importunate
hammering on her new paint. "Shops ain't supposed to be open till the
shutters is down."

"I will take them down for you," offered Tom, blandly.

"I don't want them took down yet, thank you, sir. Why I haven't had time
even to light my kitchen fire yet----"

"I'll light your kitchen fire, Babbs dear," said Debby, quite undisturbed
by Miss Babbs's wrath. "I'll have it burning like anything by the time
you've got your hair on."

Miss Babbs backed away into the dark shop. "I don't want any help, thank
you, Miss Deborah," she said, stiffly. "If you'll come again in an hour's
time, when the shop is open, I'll be ready to serve you."

"Babby dear, don't be cross," pleaded Deborah. "It's mother's birthday,
and we want some flags to decorate the garden, 'cause she's coming out
to-day for the first time."

Debby's tone was pathetic in the extreme. Her expression and her words
went straight to Miss Babbs's heart, and brought the tears to her eyes.
"Oh, my dear children, you don't say so! Oh, I _am_ glad! Whoever'd have
thought it. Come right in--not that I believe I've a flag left, unless
'tis Coronation ones. Come in and shut the door, Master Tom. We don't
want all Moor End dropping in, before I'm dressed for the day, and my
place tidy. No, never mind the shutters, Master Tom, we'll leave them up
for a bit. I'll carry the box into the parlour for you, and you can turn
it out for yourselves, while I light my fire, or I shall be I don't know
where all day."

Tom and Debby, expressing their thanks as they went, groped their way
delightedly past barrels of potatoes, soap-boxes, and goods of many kinds.
The sacks looked quite alarming in the dimness, the barrels as though they
might have held all manner of mysterious dangers. The air was heavy with
the mingled smell of onions, bacon, scented soap, leather, and groceries.

"Oh, I _must_ keep a shop when I grow up," whispered Debby. "Miss Babbs,
when you retire will you sell your business to me? I've got three pounds
in the bank already, and I'll sav