Mrs Asplin caught
sight of them, and produced her own handkerchief in instant response.

"Ah, Peg, I know what you are thinking. The old home is not like itself
without the boys. I feel it too, dear, I feel it too. Not a single boy
would we have had in the place, if Rob had not taken pity on us, bless
him! It seems so strange after having had so many of them all these
years."

"It seems very quiet and peaceful, if you ask me! and if I'm _not_ a
boy, I've been away, and I do think I deserve a little attention!" cried
Mellicent, aggrieved. "If it had been Max who had come home, you
wouldn't all be crying and moaning for the girls. You would forget
there were such things in the world. It's not our fault that we happen
to be girls, and we have our feelings all the same. No one speaks to
me! No one says they are pleased to see me! No one makes the slightest
fuss because I am home!"

"Darling!" cried her mother, and rushed to take her in her arms. "My
precious baby, I'm just delighted to have you back; but you know how it
is--the thought of old times made me sad for the moment. We seemed such
a small party without the boys."

Mellicent grimaced and hitched her shoulders in petulant fashion. Then
she looked at Peggy, and a flash of amusement passed from eye to eye.

"Let's have tea!" she said shortly. "It's good for the spirits, and we
are both hungry. It's to be in the schoolroom, I suppose, mother, as we
asked. Peggy died to have tea there again, and was so afraid that it
would be laid out in style in the drawing-room that she made me ask you
to have it exactly the same as in the old times. I told her it was no
use, that you would have out all the best things, whatever we said."

"But you didn't, Mrs Asplin, did you? There are halfpenny buns, aren't
there, and scones, and damson jam, and the old thick cups and saucers?"

"Bless me, no, child! The very best china; cakes from Buzzard's, with
icing on the top, strawberries and cream, and every luxury you can
imagine. The schoolroom, yes; but you don't suppose I'd feed my
prodigal on halfpenny buns! Come and see all the good things that are
waiting;" and Mrs Asplin led the way towards the schoolroom, with the
complacent air of a housekeeper who has reason to be satisfied with her
preparations, while the two girls followed with elbows in suspiciously
close proximity. Another moment and the door was thrown open, when Mrs
Asplin immediately gave a shrie