ll how it was, but a quiet peace stole over her, a
feeling which had no thought or care for the future, and it had been
many nights since she had slept as sweetly or soundly as she did for
one half hour with her head upon the table in that little room at
Terrace Hill, Dr. Richards' home and Anna's. She did not see the
good-humored face which looked in at her a moment, nor hear the
whispering in the hall; neither did she know when Willie, nothing loath,
was coaxed from the room and carried up the stairs into the upper hall,
where he was purposely left to himself, while Pamelia, the mother of
Jim's two pairs of twins, went to Anna's room, where she was to sit for
an hour or so, while the ladies had their lunch. Anna's head was better;
the paroxysms of pain were leas frequent than in the morning, and she
lay upon her pillow, her eyes closed wearily, and her thoughts with
Charlie Millbrook. Why had he never written?--why never come to see her?

So intently was she thinking of Charlie that she did not hear the patter
of little feet in the hall without. Tired of staying by himself, and
spying the open door, Willie hastened toward it, pausing a moment on the
threshold as if to reconnoiter. Something in Anna's attitude, as she lay
with her long hair falling over the pillow, must have reminded him of
Alice, for, with a cry of delight, he ran forward, and patting the white
cheek with his soft baby hand, lisped out the word "Arn-tee, arn-tee,"
making Anna start suddenly and gaze at him in wondering surprise.

"Who is he?" she said, drawing him to her at once and pressing a kiss
upon his rosy face.

Pamelia told her what she knew of the stranger waiting in the
reception-room, adding in conclusion: "I believe they said you did not
want her, and Jim is to take her to the depot when it's time. She's very
young and pretty, and looks so sorry, Jim told me."

"Said I did not want her! How did they know?" and something of the
Richards' spirit flashed from Anna's eyes. "The child is so beautiful,
and he called me 'Auntie,' too! He must have an auntie somewhere. Little
dear! how she must love him! Lift him up, Pamelia."

"I must see his mother," Anna said. "She must be above the ordinary
waiting maids. Perhaps I should like her. At all events I will hear what
she has to say. Show her up, Pamelia; but first smooth my hair a little
and arrange my pillows."

Pamelia complied with her request; then leaving Willie with Anna, she
repaired t