just brought over a pie and a few cakes I found in
my pantry----"

"I can't accept them after being so rude."

[Sidenote: A Short Memory]

"Were you rude, dear? A short memory is an advantage sometimes. But
we'll kiss and be friends, as the children say, and I will take turns
with you in nursing Babs."

What Eva would have done without the capable woman would be hard to say,
for the child lay on the borders of the spirit land for weeks. When the
crisis was past her first words were, "Evie, Evie!" and never before had
Eva listened with such joy and thankfulness to her name. The child could
not bear her out of sight; "pretty sister" was doctor, nurse, and mother
in one. Unwearied in care, and patient with the whims of the little
one, she was a treasure to her father, whose harassed face began to wear
a happier expression.

"I have great news to tell," he began one evening when, with Babs in his
arms and the boys hanging around in their usual fashion, they were
sitting together after tea.

"Tell, tell!" shouted the audience; but the doctor shook his head, while
his eyes rested on Eva.

"Is it about mother?" she whispered, and he nodded.

"Mother is well, and coming home."

"Mother's coming back!" was echoed throughout the house to the
accompaniment of a war dance of three excited kangaroos until sleep
closed all eyes.

[Illustration: MRS. MEADOWS' BROTHER ARRIVED.]

The day of the arrival was memorable in many ways to the young girl. In
the morning came an invitation to sing at a concert, an hour later Mrs.
Meadows' brother arrived, laden with good things for the returning
invalid, and with a letter from an editor in Wellington, which brought a
flush of delighted surprise to Eva's face.

Mrs. Meadows herself came over later.

"The editor is a friend of mine, Eva," she said; "and in rescuing a
story of yours from Jack, I found him a contributor. Not for what you
have done, but for what I'm certain you can do if you will write of life
and not sentimental rubbish. You are not offended, are you?"

Eva's eyes glistened. "Offended with _you_--_you_ who have laden me with
kindness, and helped me to find all that is worth having in life! I have
learned now to see myself with other eyes than my own."

Eva's doubts were set to rest once and for ever when she saw the frail
mother she had really forgotten, and felt her arms around her as she
said, "My daughter--thank Heaven for such a treasure!"

[Sidenote: