faintly. Alix, the unstilted, widened her eyes, and opened her
mouth in unaffected astonishment. For there was no mistaking
Cherry's tone.

"Doctor," said Martin, coming in, "this little girl of yours and I
have something to tell you!" The old man looked at him sharply,
almost sternly, looked about at the girls' faces, and was silent.
But he tightened his arm about Cherry, who had fluttered to the
arm of his chair.

"Are you surprised, Daddy?" Cherry laughed, with all a child's
innocent exultation. The next instant Anne and Martin were shaking
hands, and Alix had enveloped Cherry in an enthusiastic embrace.

"Surprised!" exclaimed Alix. "Why, aren't you surprised yourself!"

Her sister flushed exquisitely, and Martin laughed.

"We're just about knocked silly!" he confessed, and all the girls
laughed joyously.

There followed a delighted confusion of talk, when each in turn
remembered what she had noticed, what she had suspected, and what
her first emotion had been at this moment or that. Meanwhile a
place was made for Martin, and biscuits and omelette and honey and
tea were put into brisk circulation. Cherry left her place beside
her father, with a final kiss, and took her own chair, all
dimples, flushes, smiles, and shy confidence.

"And what are your plans?" Anne asked maternally, as she poured