the kitchen garden
was almost hidden by the masses of pink and white bloom upon it; the
orchard was a picture of beauty, whilst the flower-beds in front were
masses of late bulbs and forget-me-nots. The house itself was the
same, and yet not the same. It seemed as if it were waking up from a
long sleep. Every-one of the windows was open; the hall was filled
with the scent of flowers, and, as the dock in it struck five, Lady
Isobel came to the door, and shading her eyes with her hands looked out
along the drive. The sun was getting low, but it sent its slanting
golden rays across her pretty blue gown. Her face had lost much of its
sadness, and her lips were parted in smiling expectancy now, for she
had caught the sound of wheels. In another moment a big dogcart swung
up to the house, and the cheery voice of her husband called to her.

'Here they are safe and sound! And Margot is following with the
luggage cart.'

The next minute two pairs of childish arms were embracing her.

'Oh Aunt Is'bel, we're so glad to come!'

'And Bobby hasn't cried a tear since dad went away, for we mean to be
so happy.'

'That is splendid, my darling! Come along in and see some changes we
have made, and then Bobby shall take us to the nursery and tell us how
he likes it, and whether he thinks Margot will be happy in it.'

Bobby looked about him with eager delighted eyes. There was no
question of his not noticing the changes. He remarked on every one.

'You've got new stair carpets; the walls are papered quite different.
You've got flowers in the staircase window. Oh, what pretty pictures!'

He was upstairs like lightning, none of the rooms appealed to him like
his nursery. The green baize door was there still, but when he came
into his old domain he drew a long breath. Pretty chintz curtains were
in the windows. There was a thick soft red carpet under foot, a
bookcase with delightful looking story-books, a stand of flowers, a
globe of goldfish, and several fresh pictures on the walls, which had
been papered with pink roses to match the chintz.

'It's like a fairy book!' said the delighted Bobby. 'She waves her
wand--the fairy, you know--and all the old things come new, and the
ugly things come pretty!'

'Lady Isobel is the fairy,' said True. She was looking about her with
great curiosity.

'I never have lived in quite such a big house,' she said, as, after
having seen the nursery, she followed Lady Isobel downstair