The crisis was over, and Diana was to live.  From that hour she recovered, slowly but surely.  Iris was allowed to be with her a good deal, and the mere fact of Iris being in the room always seemed to chase the irritation and the weakness of that long recovery away.  At the end of a fortnight the sick child was well enough to return to Delaney Manor.  Then, from being half well she became quite well, and when the autumn really came, and the cool breezes blew in from the sea, father returned to his home once more, and he and Aunt Jane had a long talk, and it was finally arranged that the four children were to remain in the old home, and were to play in the old garden, and that father was to stay at home himself and look after them as best he could.

“They are not ordinary children, and I frankly confess I cannot manage them,” said Aunt Jane.  “As to Iris, she is without exception the most peculiar child I ever came across; I know, of course, she is a good child—­I would not say a word to disparage her, for I admire her strength—­but when a child considers that she has got a mission——­”

“I know all about that,” said David Delaney.

“Iris thinks that she is to be a little mother to the others—­those were Evangeline’s last words to her.  Well, Jane, it is a heavy burden for such a little creature to carry, but the fact of her obeying her mother’s last injunction really saved little Diana’s life.”

THE END.