The delight of the Snowden children at the success of their mother's mission was beyond words, and this one serious drawback to their happiness being removed, all went merry as a marriage bell.
* * * *
"You, Kenneth, have got to be the Prince, and in five minutes' time you must come in with the slipper to fit on Cinderella's foot. We'll have a jolly big one, for the fun of the thing!"
"All right. Have you got one that will do?"
"Yes,—" it was clever Rupert who was organizing the games for the evening—"we've got an old one of Nurse's. It will hold both Ella's feet, and there 'll still be lodgings to let."
Kenneth laughed. The fun was at its height, and charades were in full progress, much to the amusement of the little assembled guests.
The word chosen for the charade was "Cinderella," and the two first parts had already been enacted.
Now it only remained for the final scene, which was the trying on of the slipper by the Prince.
Kenneth, during the five minutes before his presence was required, ran downstairs to see whether Uncle Phil had yet made his appearance. He wended his way to the dining-room, where he heard voices. Here a surprise awaited him, a surprise so delightful that it nearly took his breath away. Not only did he find his mother, Mrs. Russell and Uncle Phil in the room, but a tall, fine-looking stranger also, whose face somehow seemed slightly familiar to the lad.
"Hullo! Ken, my boy," said Dr. Carteret, stretching out his hand. "Here I am, you see—'better late than never!'"