unt Mary will let me see
the baby."

"Wonder if you will manage to keep good till then," observed a voice
behind them.

She turned with a squeak of delight and sprang to meet Everard.

He was looking haggard in the morning light, but he smiled upon her in a
way she had never seen before, and he stooped and kissed her with a
tenderness that amazed her.

"Stella tells me you were very brave yesterday," he said.

"Was I? When?" Tessa opened her blue eyes to their widest extent. "Oh, I
was only--angry," she said then. "Darling Aunt Stella was frightened."

He patted her shoulder. "You meant to take care of her, so I'm grateful
all the same," he said.

Tessa clung to his arm. "I'd like to come and take care of her always,"
she said, rather wistfully. "I can easily be spared, Uncle Everard. And
I'm really not nearly so naughty as I used to be."

He smiled at the words, but did not respond. "Where's Scooter?" he said.

They spent some time hunting for him, but it was left to Peter finally
to unearth him, for in the middle of the search Mrs. Ralston came softly
out upon the verandah with the baby in her arms, and at once all Tessa's
thoughts were centred upon the new arrival. She had never before seen
anything so tiny, so red, or so utterly beautiful!

Bernard left his breakfast to join the circle of admirers, and when the
doctor arrived a few minutes later he was in triumphant possession of
the small bundle that held them all spellbound. He knew how to handle a
baby, and was extremely proud of the accomplishment.

It was not till two days later, however, that he was admitted to see the
mother. She had turned the corner, they said, but she was terribly weak.
Yet, as soon as she heard of the presence of her brother-in-law, she
insisted upon seeing him.

Everard brought him in to her, but for the first time in her life she
dismissed him when the introduction was effected.

"We shall get on better alone," she said, with a smile. "You come
back--afterwards."

So Everard withdrew, and Bernard sat down by her side, his big hand
holding hers.

"That is nice," she said, her pale face turned to him. "I have been
wanting to know you ever since Everard first told me of you."

He bent with a little smile and kissed the slender fingers he held.
"Then the desire has been mutual," he said.

"Thank you." Stella's eyes were fixed upon his face. "I was afraid,"
she said, with slight hesitation, "that you might think--when yo