e to welcome you!"

Sara laughed, swung herself back by the tips of her fingers and danced
around him in the childish fashion of long ago.

"I found I could make an earlier connection with the C.P.A. yesterday
and get to the Island last night. I was in such a fever to get home that
I jumped at the chance. Of course I walked from the station--it's only
two miles and every step was a benediction. My trunks are over there.
We'll go after them to-morrow, daddy, but just now I want to go straight
to every one of the dear old nooks and spots at once."

"You must get something to eat first," he urged fondly. "And there ain't
much in the house, I'm afraid. I was going to bake to-morrow morning.
But I guess I can forage you out something, darling."

He was sorely repenting having given Mrs. Blewett's doughnuts to the
pigs, but Sara brushed all such considerations aside with a wave of her
hand.

"I don't want anything to eat just now. By and by we'll have a snack;
just as we used to get up for ourselves whenever we felt hungry.
Don't you remember how scandalized White Sands folks used to be at our
irregular hours? I'm hungry; but it's soul hunger, for a glimpse of all
the dear old rooms and places. Come--there are four hours yet before
sunset, and I want to cram into them all I've missed out of these three
years. Let us begin right here with the garden. Oh, daddy, by what
witchcraft have you coaxed that sulky rose-bush into bloom?"

"No witchcraft at all--it just bloomed because you were coming home,
baby," said her father.

They had a glorious afternoon of it, those two children. They explored
the garden and then the house. Sara danced through every room, and then
up to her own, holding fast to her father's hand.

"Oh, it's lovely to see my little room again, daddy. I'm sure all my old
hopes and dreams are waiting here for me."

She ran to the window and threw it open, leaning out.

"Daddy, there's no view in the world so beautiful as that curve of sea
between the headlands. I've looked at magnificent scenery--and then I'd
shut my eyes and conjure up that picture. Oh, listen to the wind keening
in the trees! How I've longed for that music!"

He took her to the orchard and followed out his crafty plan of surprise
perfectly. She rewarded him by doing exactly what he had dreamed of her
doing, clapping her hands and crying out:

"Oh, daddy! Why, daddy!"

They finished up with the shore, and then at sunset they came ba