“That,” she said, “is quite the nicest thing I’ve ever had said to me. I know my own life has been a kind of glorious fairy tale lately.”

“Life,” said Barnabas, “is a fairy tale, if only one can believe it.”

“But,” said Aunt Olive, “one comes in touch with bad fairies on occasions.”

“I know,” nodded Barnabas gravely. “But I fancy there are some people who have the magic wand that can transform them into good ones.”

“It’s a comfortable belief,” said Miss Mason.

Sally opened the studio door.

“A lady to see Mr. Kirby, ma’am,” she said. “She says she has come about an advertisement of a ring.”

“At last,” said Barnabas, and he got up.

“Show her in,” said Miss Mason. And the next minute Sybil Preston entered the studio. Halfway into the room she stopped.

“Granny!” she exclaimed.