"You'll carry a light heart now, and I believe she will respond."
The letter went its way, and two days later the answer came.
"DEAR JUSTIN,—
"I was impressed with your small son, and I confess should like to see more of him. We will consider the past as a sealed page. Expect me on Tuesday.
"Your affec. sister,
"GRACE."
"Ruffie wins everybody's heart," said Anstice.
"And what about you?"
"Oh, I'm a negligible quantity," said Anstice, laughing. "Now, Justin, you must explain your sister's existence to your children. You can do that better than I can."
"I will try," he said, and he went straight away and did it.
The little girls were much interested.
"Have we really an aunt? Where has she been all this time? Why has she never been to see us?"
"She doesn't live very near us," said Justin rather awkwardly.