own.

But now, as somebody moved aside and the light struck upon her, he
caught the smile on Mrs. Peyton's face. He left off shaking Jeff's hand,
and made a quick movement toward the little figure in black.

"Why, Cousin Lula!" he exclaimed.

Charlotte, at the moment hugging little Ellen with laughter and kisses,
turned at the cry, and saw her husband greeting with great cordiality
these strange people whom she, too, had supposed to be the guests of her
mother.

"Charlotte," said Doctor Churchill, turning about, "this is my cousin,
Mrs. Peyton, of Virginia--and her children."

Charlotte came forward, cordially greeted Mrs. Peyton and Lucy and
Randolph, and led them into the living-room as if the moment were that
of their arrival instead of her own.

"She has the stuff in her, hasn't she?" murmured Just to Jeff, as the
two stood at one side of the fireplace.

"Could you ever doubt it?" returned Jeff, with as much emphasis as can
be put into a mumbled retort. Jeff had been Charlotte's staunchest
champion all his life.

"Ah, Fieldsy, but I'm glad to be back!" Doctor Churchill assured his
housekeeper, in the kitchen, to which he had soon found his way. "We've
had a glorious time down in the Virginia mountains, but this is home
now, as it never was before, and it's great fun to be here. How are you?
You're looking fine."

"And I'm feeling fine," assented Mrs. Fields, her spare face lighted
into something like real comeliness by the pleasure in her heart. "Just
one thing, Doctor Andy. I'm terrible sorry them relatives of yours
happened along just now. If I'd gone to the door--well--I don't believe
but I'd have seen my way clear to--"

Churchill shook his head, smiling. "No, Fieldsy, you know you wouldn't.
Besides, Cousin Lula looks far from well, and she's had a lot of
trouble. It's all right, you know. My, but this is a good dinner we have
coming to us!"

He went off gaily. Mrs. Fields looked after him affectionately.

"Oh, yes, Andy Churchill, it's plain to be seen your heart's in the
right place as much as ever it was, if you have got married," she
thought.

"O Fieldsy,"--and this time it was Charlotte who invaded the kitchen and
grasped the housekeeper's hands--"how good it seems to be back! But I
can't realise a bit I'm at home over here, can you?"

"You'll soon get used to it, I guess, Mis' Churchill."

"Oh, and _that_ sounds strange--from you!" declared Charlotte, laughing.
"I'd begun to get a littl