who stood near
her: "Isn't that just like Dorothy Dainty! She doesn't want those pills
any more than you or I would, but she won't let Arabella feel hurt."

"She is dear, and sweet," was the whispered reply, "and so is Nancy."

At last Marcus arrived, and as they rode along the avenue, they waved
their handkerchiefs to the group on the porch until they turned the
corner, and were out of sight.

The long car-ride was much like any all-day ride. Rather pleasant at
first, a bit tedious on the last hour, but oh, the joy of the
home-coming!

Mrs. Dainty had felt the first separation from Dorothy keenly, and she
could not school herself to be calm when for the first time in months
she would see her sweet face again, so she sent the limousine over to
the station, and with a desperate effort at patience, waited at home for
the sound of its return.

Aunt Charlotte was more calm, but so long had Nancy been under her care
that she seemed like a little daughter, and now, with Mrs. Dainty she
sat waiting, and each smiled when she caught the other watching the
clock.

Of course the train was late in arriving at Merrivale, and Mrs. Dainty
was just beginning to be anxious when the limousine whirled up the
driveway, and stopped. John opened the door, and in an instant Dorothy
found herself held close in loving arms.

"Dorothy, my darling, I can never be parted from you again. If it is a
question of travel, I will not go unless you go with me, and if it is
education, then you must have private tutors at home."

"Oh, yes, yes!" agreed Dorothy.

"At first the newness amused me, but the last half of the time grew
harder and harder to bear. I knew you needed the rest and change and I
did my best. When I found that you had come home two weeks earlier, I
could hardly wait till this morning to start."

"We've tried to be cheerful for each other," Nancy said, looking out
from her shelter in Aunt Charlotte's arms, "but oh, how good it is to be
at home!"

Mollie Merton, and Flossie Barnet had waved to them as they turned in at
the great gate, and Uncle Harry had swung his cap gayly, and looked the
genuine pleasure that he felt at seeing them again.

"Let's go over to see Dorothy and Nancy," Flossie said, but Uncle Harry
laid his hand gently on her arm.

"Not just now, Flossie dear," he said. "My little niece is truly glad to
see them, but I think there will be things to talk over, and they have
been apart for months, so they shou