you like!" Each one wanted to hold the
precious document in his own hands, to read it with his own eyes, and it
was handed round and round to be exclaimed over in accents of wonder and
admiration, while Rob beamed, and Peggy tossed her pigtail over her
shoulder, holding her little head at an angle of complacent
satisfaction.

The moment of triumph was very sweet--all the sweeter because of the
sorrows of the last few weeks. The partners forgot all the hard work,
worry, and exhaustion, and remembered only the joy of success and hope
fulfilled. Robert said little in the way of thanks, preferring to wait
until he could tell Peggy of his gratitude without an audience to
criticise his words; but when his mother began to speak of leaving, it
was he who reminded Mrs Asplin of the promise that the invalid should
have her first walk on Christmas Day.

"Let us go on ahead, and take her with us until the carriage overtakes
us. It will do her no harm. It's bright and dry--"

"Oh, mater, yes! I told Peg I would take her out," chimed in Arthur,
starting from his seat by Rosalind's side, and looking quite distressed
because he had momentarily forgotten his promise. "Wrap her up well,
and we'll take care of her. The air will do her good."

"I think it will, but you must not go far--not an inch beyond the
crossroads. Come, Peggy, and I'll dress you myself. I can't trust you
to put on enough wraps." Mrs Asplin whisked the girl out of the room,
and wrapped her up to such an extent that when she came downstairs again
she could only puff and gasp above her muffler, declare that she was
choking, and fan herself with her muff. Choking or not, the eyes of the
companions brightened as they looked at her, for the scarlet
tam-o'-shanter was set at a rakish angle on the dark little head, and
Peggy the invalid seemed to have made way for the Peggy of old, with
dimpling cheeks and the light of mischief in her eyes.

The moment that Mrs Asplin stopped fumbling with her wraps, she was out
at the door, opening her mouth to drink in the fresh chill air, and
Robert was at her side before anyone had a chance of superseding him.

"Umph! Isn't it good? I'm stifling for a blow. My lungs are sore for
want of exercise. I was longing, longing to get out. Robert, do you
realise it? We have won the prize! Can you believe it? It is almost
too good to be true. It's the best present of all. Now you can buy
your microscope, and get on with