aked smoothly. The barns and outhouses were
painted white, and they looked surprisingly clean against the gray sky.
The house itself had lost all its rakish and forlorn look, though it
retained, in spite of paint, its inviting air of mystery.

Gone were the dilapidated boards that had barred the windows, and white
curtains fluttered in their stead. Green box-trees guarded each side
of the white door, whose brass knocker shone in proof of the care
lavished upon it.

"Well, what does the Princess think about it?" Peter demanded,
delighted at Janet's look of surprise.

"I'd never have recognized it," she confessed. "What a lot you have
done to it!"

"Come and see the inside. That's the best of all," Peter told her.

Mrs. Todd welcomed them from the doorway, and the tour of inspection
began at once, for Janet would not hear of taking off her hat and coat
until she had seen everything.

"All right; we'll leave the kingdom till the last," Peter said, as he
followed Mrs. Todd from room to room.

Beautiful old furniture stood where Janet remembered the sheeted ghosts
that had frightened her so many times. Gay chintz curtains vied with
the copper and brass to liven the rooms that had always been shrouded
in darkness. Upstairs the bedrooms were a happy combination of rag
rugs and wonderful big beds, some of them so high that steps were
necessary.

Peter had a den adjoining his room, and it was filled with his pet
books and pictures. He exhibited it with pride, and Janet saw him slip
his arm around Mrs. Todd and give her a hug when he thought no one was
looking.

At last only the Enchanted Kingdom remained, and when Janet entered it
she found herself alone. Perhaps it was just as well--the sight of the
old rows of books, the table and the window-seat where she had spent so
many happy hours sent tears to her eyes, and she had to blink hard to
keep them from falling.

She sat on the floor, scorning the comfy chairs, and pulled out book
after book; each one was in its same place, and she patted them all as
though they were alive.

After a long time Peter came in to find her. Mrs. Todd had sent him to
tell her that luncheon was ready, but when he found her sitting on the
floor, he forgot his message and dropped down beside her.

They were both very late for luncheon.

So many things filled the days that followed that a whole volume would
be required to chronicle them. Janet and Phyllis liked the day before