"In Montana, a civil engineer. I find it hard to realize that my little brother Archie is twenty-two, and a grown man."
There was another pause. Then Mrs. McAlister suddenly drew a low footstool to her side.
"Theodora, child," she said; "sit down here and let me talk to you. You seem so far off, standing there. Remember, I'm a stranger to you all, and I want somebody to cuddle me a little, this first night."
She had chanced to strike the right chord. Theodora never failed to respond to an appeal to her sympathy and care. All enveloped in her loosened hair, she dropped down at her stepmother's side.
"You aren't homesick, I hope."
"No; I couldn't be, with such a welcome home. But papa is down in the office, and I needed somebody to talk to. I thought you'd understand, dear. And then there were things I wanted to say to you."
"What?" Theodora asked suspiciously.
Mrs. McAlister rested her hand on the girl's shoulder.
"About the flowers, for one thing. I know so well how you felt, Theodora, when you put them there."
"What do you mean?" Theodora faced her sharply.