Once at home and the little waif safely tucked
away in the crib that had sheltered Lucy in the
old days, the neighbors began to flock in; Uncle
Ephraim among the first.

"My, but I'm glad you're back!" he burst out.
"Martha's been lonelier than a cat in a garret, and
down at our house we ain't much better. And so
that Bunch of Roses is going to stay over there, is
she, and set those Frenchies crazy?"

Pastor Dellenbaugh took both of Jane's hands into
his own and looking into her face, said:

"Ah, but we've missed you! There has been no
standard, my dear Miss Jane, since you've been gone.
I have felt it, and so has everyone in the church.
It is good to have you once more with us."

Mrs. Cavendish could hardly conceal her satisfaction,
although she was careful what she said to her
son. Her hope was that the care of the child would
so absorb Jane that John would regain his freedom
and be no longer subservient to Miss Cobden's
whims.

"And so Lucy is to stay in Paris?" she said, with
one of her sweetest smiles. "She is so charming
and innocent, that sweet sister of yours, my dear
Miss Jane, and so sympathetic. I quite lost my heart