mischief. Why did she come here without being asked? Iris,
shall we go down to dessert to-night, or not?"

"I would much rather not," answered Iris.

"But father likes us to go. It is the only time in the day when he
really sees us. I think, perhaps, we ought to get dressed and be ready
to go down."

"I will if you think so, Apollo; but I am very tired and sleepy."

"Well, I really do. We must not shirk things if we are to be a bit
what mother wants us to be; and now that Aunt Jane has come, poor
father may want us worse than ever."

"I never thought of that," replied Iris. "I'll run and get dressed at
once, Apollo."

She flew away into a tiny little room of her own, which opened into
the night-nursery.

"Susan," she called out, "will you please help me to put on my
after-dinner frock?"

"You have only a white dress to wear this evening, miss; your new
black one has not come home yet."

"A white one will be all right," replied Iris.

"Oh, dear me, miss! and your poor mother only a week dead."

"I wish, Susan, you would not talk of mother as dead," answered Iris.
"I don't think of her like that a bit. She is in Heaven; she has gone
up the golden stairs, and she is quite well and ever so happy, and she
won't mind my wearing a white dress, more particular if I want to
comfort father. Please help me on with it and then brush out my hair."

Iris had lovely hair--it was of a deep, rich chestnut, and it curled
and curled, and waved and waved in rich profusion down her back. When
Susan had brushed it, and taken the tangles out, it shone like
burnished gold. Her pretty white frock was speedily put on, and she
ran out of her little room to join Apollo, who, in his black velvet
suit, looked very picturesque and handsome.

Not long afterwards the little pair, taking each other's hands, ran
down the broad, white marble stairs and entered the big dining room.
They looked almost lost in the distance when they first appeared, for
the table at which Mr. Delaney and Mrs. Dolman sat was far away in a
bay window at the other end of the stately apartment.

"Hullo, children! so there you are!" called their father's voice to
them. He had never been better pleased to see them in all his life,
and the note of welcome in his tones found an answering echo in Iris'
loving little heart.

They both tripped eagerly up the room and placed themselves one on
each side of him, while Iris slipped her hand into his.

"Well, my chicks,