had not taken it in hand.

When the traveller went to change her dress Louise had a little
triumph over Carl which pleased her exceedingly.

Going up to the star chamber, she called, "Well, I have found out your
secret, Mr. Carl. It is that Auntie is coming home to-morrow."

"Who told you?" he demanded.

"Never mind, I told you I'd find out," and she ran away without
giving him a chance to ask any more questions.

An hour later, when the boys came downstairs, there was Aunt Zelie
looking as if she had never, never been away, and the girls quite
consumed with delight at their surprise.

"Louise, that was mean!" Carl cried. "How long have you been here, I'd
like to know?" with one of his bearlike hugs.

"I did not _mean_ to be mean, really, and you and Ikey can have all
the candy you want," said Louise generously.

Mrs. Howard had certainly no reason to doubt her popularity. The news
of her arrival spread, and the next day in the afternoon she held an
impromptu reception.

One after another the boys and girls dropped in, till the whole eleven
were there. The first to arrive was Jim, with a great bunch of roses,
at which extravagance Aunt Zelie shook her head, though she could not
help appreciating their beauty and Jim's thoughtfulness.

Ikey wished that he could do magnificent things like that,--he
sometimes dreamed of it,--but alas! he was in a chronically penniless
state. He had nothing for her but a message from his mother, but when
he screwed up sufficient courage to deliver it it seemed to please her
as much as the roses. The message was: "Thank Mrs. Howard for being so
good to my boy. Some day I hope to see her and tell her how I love
her for it." Ikey's heart fairly glowed when Aunt Zelie said that it
was only a pleasure to be good to such a nice boy.

Last of all came Cousin Helen and Aleck, who stayed and spent a merry
evening.

"It is so nice to have Aunt Zelie back, I am almost glad she went,"
Bess was heard to say.

And that lady herself thought that such a welcome quite made up for
the four rather lonely weeks in the country with her invalid aunt.

CHAPTER XX.

THE ORDER OF THE BIG FRONT DOOR.

On the afternoon of the meeting at Miss Brown's, when the silver keys
were distributed, Jim had walked home with Aunt Zelie and said as they
reached the gate, "Thank you very much for the pin, Mrs. Howard; I
mean to remember the motto and be a helper if I can."

"I am sure you do, and you