We were getting near our own station now, and I grew very eager, looking out for papa’s brougham.  How cold the air was, going out of the station, and what a cosy remembrance of home feeling there was about the soft corner, where I had often nestled when driving with papa!

I don’t remember much about Bobby’s welcome; I know both little brothers seemed a little strange to me till about the middle of tea-time.  Bobby was very hot and excited with his half-hour before the nursery fire, making toast for Sissy’s first tea at home.  I could feel that he was looking at me very hard, but I don’t think we were either of us quite comfortable till he had thrown his arms round my neck, repeating his old cry, “Nursey, I’m so glad Sissy’s come home!” After that it was all right, and we chattered away nineteen to the dozen.  Dear old nurse! she was as pleased to see me again as possible.  Indeed, I am not sure that she did not keep me up half an hour later than mamma intended, just talking to me and “blessing my little heart,” in her own loving fashion.  When I went through the night nursery at last to my own little room, I made her let me stop and look at the little ones; and what a hugging and kissing she gave me when I declared that they were ever so much prettier than the Beecham cousins.  Dear little Bobby, with his sweet, rosy, budding mouth, and baby Willie’s round cheeks and bright, golden curls, I can remember just how they looked!

In a day or two we settled down together, and I was quite at home.  The only person who still seemed restless was Jane.  For two or three weeks she was always talking about the Park, and wishing herself back there.  Then, all of a sudden, she grew quite bright and happy, and talked away to nurse in quite a different way.

I didn’t know what it all meant; and especially, I couldn’t think why she was always getting so red when nurse talked about flowers and plants.  At last I found out that Jane was going away altogether; and a month or two after Christmas, nurse dressed Bobby and me one day, and took us to church, and mamma took care of baby at home.  And at church we saw Jane with her father and mother, and I whispered to Bobby that the strange man with them was Mr. Owen, grandmamma’s head-gardener, and I couldn’t think how he came to be in our church!  But when the service was all over, nurse took us into the vestry, and told us to go and give Jane a kiss, because she was Mrs. Owen now, and we must “say something pretty.”

It doesn’t seem to do to tell little folks that sort of thing.  You remember, when Jane herself gave me that charge ever so long ago, it didn’t answer, and now there was Bobby crying and sobbing out that “Mr. Owen shouldn’t take Janie away; he was a naughty man; he didn’t like him at all!” But nobody seemed to mind this, indeed they all looked pleased; and Mr. Owen turned round, and asked me if he should take me back to Beecham too?

Ah, by this time, I was quite sure, and didn’t hesitate at all when I said, “No, thank you, I’d rather stay at home.”