"Am I tidy?" she asked anxiously. "Do I look nice?"
"Oh, yes!" in accents of surprise.
"Will she be cross?"
"Cross! Mother cross! Oh, no! Why do you ask?" in amazement.
"I thought she might be. She is ill, is she not? When mother was ill, or tired, I hated to go near her!"
"Come in, Stella!" called Dr. Knight's voice. "What are you two whispering about outside the door? You can't have any secrets to tell already, I'm sure," laughing. "Bring your cousin in, Dora! Don't you know your mother is all expectation, longing to see her?"
Turning her eyes eagerly towards the door, Mrs. Knight saw a slight little figure clad in a black frock. Stella advanced towards her aunt with outstretched hand, the faint artificial smile on her lips with which she had been in the habit of greeting her mother's visitors, her eyes full of doubts.
"So this is Stella," Mrs. Knight said. "This is my new little daughter!" Her voice was so tender and kind that it sent the tears to Stella's eyes. "Sit down here by my side, little one, and tell me how my big romping children have been behaving."
"Oh," said Stella, "they have been very polite."
The doctor laughed, and he and Dora went downstairs to join the others, leaving Stella alone with her aunt. Mrs. Knight continued to talk about her children, hoping Stella would make friends with them, and have a happy home in their midst. The little girl listened quietly and attentively. She watched her aunt with her large, starlike eyes, and presently a pleased smile flickered around her lips. When the time came for her to say good-night, and go to bed, she was genuinely sorry.