one, and there were space and air and sunshine
all about them. Oh, what a change after the close, narrow streets,
the gloom and dinginess, the want of space! Jessie's spirits began
to rise. How could she be unhappy in this beautiful world, with home
before her, and granp and granny waiting for her, and the cottage,
and her own dear little bedroom. "Will my rose be alive, do you
think, Miss Grace?" she asked eagerly.

"Yes, dear, your grandfather has cared for it as though it were his
most treasured possession, and your little garden, too. He has kept
everything as though you might return at any moment, and all must be
in readiness. It has been a cruelly long parting for them, and it
has told on them," she added. "You must be prepared to find them
altered. But," she added more cheerfully, "it rests with you to make
them young and happy again, Jessie."

"I will do my very, very best," said Jessie earnestly. "Oh!" she
sighed, "how slowly the train goes, aren't we nearly there, Miss
Grace?"

"Only a few moments now, dear. This is Crossley, the next station to
ours. Don't you recognize any landmarks yet?"

Jessie sprang to the window and remained there, fascinated,
enchanted, drinking it all in, trying to realize that all was not a
happy dream, but glorious reality. She recognized it all now, and
every yard made it more familiar.

The train gave a warning whistle. "Here we are! here we are!" she
screamed in a perfect ecstasy of joy. "Oh, Miss Grace, there is the
road, and--and here is the platform, and--and I do believe I see
granp!"

She drew in her head and shrank back into her corner. "Miss Grace,"
she pleaded excitedly, "when we stop will you and Miss Patch get out
and walk away as if I wasn't here and you had forgotten all about me,
and then granp will come to look for me--like he did the first time,
will you?"

Her eagerness was so great Miss Grace could not refuse her.
"Very well, dear, but"--laughingly--"I must leave all the parcels,
too. I can't manage them as well."

"Oh, no, we will bring those. Now," as the train drew up, "please
get out!"

She drew forward the curtain and hid behind it. Miss Barley and Miss
Patch clambered out and walked away. Half-way down the platform they
met Mr. Dawson, he was pale and trembling, but his blue eyes, bright
with eagerness, looked for one face and figure only, and saw no
other; Miss Patch and Miss Barley passed him quite unobserved; Miss
Grace