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"I--I'm too wet for the parlour," I said to the le startled, puzzled look, she went to tell some one ofat a huge, gilt-frae, until a plump little robin of a woman, in a black dress with a dash of red at the throat, ca out to ht and self-consciousness I wanted to laugh to see her bright eyes look at rew almost to panic She didn't know ht ed to say

"I'm Helen Winship--" I faltered I felt as if I had done soherself on tiptoe, as she blinked into ht of the outer hall "This isn't--can't be--not our Helen Winship--oh, it's soe fros She drewrooht, child, whoever you are I want to look at you," she said

An open fire was burning in the grate, and in the room were Milly and Ethel and white-haired Miss Marcia and a tall, blonde young man

All rose to their feet, then stopped There was an aard pause, the answering thrill of tense a They stood as if frozen, gazing The room was for aand the harateful for some far shout upon the street that drowned the noise

"But--you--but--I thought--" Milly began in a half-hushed, awe-struck whisper; she never finished the sentence, but continued to gaze at , round eyes, her lips parted, her breath quick and treht; I alht sink into the floor, but just then down the stair cae with John behind him, and little Joy perched on his shoulder I think the others were as grateful as I for the interruption

"Put me down! Put me down!" screamed Joy as she saw me sprinkled with sleet "Mah that helped to break the ice she ran with a flirt of her short skirts to hide her head against her father's knee

"Helen!" repeated Mrs Baker, only half recovering from her stupefaction, "this isn't--why, it can't be you!"