smiling at Anne,--"seemed to be the turning point. We got into the
country next year, picked out a little house. And then, the rest of
it all followed; we had two maids, a surrey, I was put into the
superintendent's place--" a sweep of the fine hand dismissed the
details. "No man and wife, who do what we did," said he, gravely,
"who live modestly, and work hard, and love each other and their
children, can FAIL. That's one of the blessed things of life."

Jim cleared his throat, but did not speak. Anne was frankly unable
to speak.

"And now I mustn't keep these children out of bed any longer," said
the older man. "This has been a--a lovely afternoon for me. I wish
Mrs. Rideout had been with me." He stood up. "Shall I give you this
little fellow, Mrs. Warriner?"

"We'll put the babies down," said Jim, rising, too, "and then,
perhaps, you'd like to look about the house, Mr. Rideout?"

"But I know how a lady feels about having her house inspected--"
hesitated the caller, with his bright, fatherly look for Anne.

"Oh, please do!" she urged them.

So the gas was lighted, and they all went into the bedroom, where
Anne tucked the children into their cribs. She stayed there while
the others went on their tour of inspection, patting her son's
small, warm body in the darkness, and listening with a smile to the
visitor's cheerful comments in kitchen and hallway, and Jim's
answering laugh.