ed its doors and took
her place among those who toiled there with loving hearts and skillful
hands; and thus Miss Merriman found her, half an hour later, when she,
similarly clad, came to bid her little guest good morning. With silent
understanding, which is born of true companionship, she drew the girl
into her arms.

"I'm not going to let you do a single thing but rest this morning," she
said at length. "You look pale and tired still--like a very white
rose--and I want you to appear your very sweetest when you go to meet
Dr. MacDonald's family this afternoon, dear. Come, let's decide what you
shall wear. The black silk that we bought in New York?"

Smiles hesitated. "I think that ... would it be all right if I wore that
pretty white woollen one?"

"Why, yes, if you like, but it is very plain and simple."

"And so am I," laughed Rose a bit unsteadily. "I want them to see me
just as I am, and ... Oh, how I hope that they will like me!"

"Never fear. They will," answered Miss Merriman, giving her a reassuring
kiss.

Nevertheless, it was a very quiet and timid Smiles who sat beside Donald
in his coupe at four that afternoon, as he drove to the richly sombre
home on Beacon Street, where had dwelt many generations of Thayers. He,
too, although he attempted to be jovial, was strangely uneasy.

"You chump!" he said to himself. "You're more disturbed about whether
this child will make a good impression, than you would be over
performing a major operation. Supposing that Ethel _doesn't_ go wild
about her, what of it?"

A trim maid ushered them into the drawing room, where softly shaded
lights were already burning, for the afternoon was dull and gray, and
they gave a mellow homelike appearance to the mahogany furniture, rich
tapestries, oriental rugs and costly paintings. Ethel, Mr. MacDonald,
Senior, and little Muriel were in the room when Donald entered with the
girl's slim hand held tightly in his, for she had slipped it there
impulsively, just as he stepped through the broad doorway.

"This," he said simply, "is Smiles."

They all arose, and Ethel stepped quickly forward with outstretched
hands. She had told herself that she meant to be very kind to the little
savage to whom her brother had taken such an astonishing fancy; but
now, something in the slender form and the half-frightened expression in
the pale, sweet face caused her to forget everything else except that
the stranger was alone and ill at ease. Both h