On this particular occasion there were no bells, no music, and no
mysterious swarming; but the heavenly apparition sat on the broad
steps. Yes, it was she! Blue-grey eyes with darker lashes sweeping
the warm ivory of her cheeks, sweet true lips for ever parting in
kind words, the white surplice and apron, and the rememberable steel
fillet. She had a little child in her lap (she generally had, by the
way), and there were other tots clinging fondly to her motherly
skirts. Marm Lisa stood at the foot of the steps, a twin glued to
each side. She stared at Mistress Mary with open-mouthed wonder not
unmixed with admiration.

'That same odd child,' thought Mary. 'I have seen her before, and
always with those two little vampires hanging to her skirts. She
looks a trifle young to have such constant family cares; perhaps we
had better "lend a hand."'

'Won't you come in?' she asked, with a smile that would have drawn a
sane person up the side of a precipice.

Atlantic turned and ran, but the other two stood their ground.

'Won't you come up and see us?' she repeated. 'There are some fishes
swimming in a glass house; come and look at them.'

Marm Lisa felt herself dragged up the steps as by invisible chains,
and even Pacific did not attempt to resist the irresistible.
Atlantic, finding himself deserted by his comrades, gave a yell of
baffled rage, and scrambled up the steps after them. But his tears
dried instantly at the sight of the room into which they were