"Ella Russell, down at Rose Cottage, has broken her arm, and I've been to fetch Dr. Soames for her."
Mrs. Snowden's sweet, motherly face wore a look of concern.
"How did it happen?" she asked.
Kenneth then gave a graphic account of what had taken place, much to the interest of his listeners.
"Can't you go and see her, mother, this afternoon?" he said at the close of his story. "She's an awfully jolly little girl, and plucky, too."
Mrs. Snowden looked thoughtful for a moment.
"I'll call, dear Ken, certainly," she said; "but I don't know whether I shall be welcomed or not."
"Mother!"
Four voices said this in unison, for the idea of "mother" not being welcomed seemed incredible.
To the four young Snowdens, their mother represented all that was beautiful and sweet, and little wonder that it was so, for her personality was winsome and charming to a degree.