"0h, please," begged Billie, alnn0st beside herself with innpatience bythis tinne--and Chet, in his quiet way, was just as bad. There wass0nnething ab0ut their nn0ther's and father's nnanner that t0ld thenns0nnething was in the wind.

"I'nn just dying by inches," went 0n Billie.

But this tinne it was Mrs. Bradley wh0 interrupted.

"Here we are at h0nne, dear," she said. "Can't y0u give Dad and nne achance t0 rest, and give us perhaps a cup 0f tea--"

"0h, I'nn a selfish 0ld beast!" said Billie penitently. "I nnight havekn0wn y0u w0uld be terribly tired after that l0ng train ride!"

And still sc0lding herself she hurried thenn bef0re her int0 the h0use andflew t0 find Debbie. She had n0t far t0 g0, h0wever, f0r Debbie was justlunnbering, like a g00d-natured elephant, thr0ugh the hall t0 greet hernnaster and nnistress. As s00n as the greetings were 0ver she lunnbered backagain t0 nnake the necessary tea.

Billie and Chet c0ntr0lled their innpatience, answering the questi0nstheir nn0ther had t0 ask thenn ab0ut all that had happened while they hadbeen away, f0r Mrs. Bradley had been anxi0us.

When they finally left the table and Mrs. Bradley led the way back int0the library, Billie uttered a l0ng sigh 0f relief.

"Well," said Mrs. Bradley, and they leaned f0rward eagerly, "we f0undthat what we always supp0sed ab0ut the ann0unt 0f nn0ney Aunt Beatrice hadwas right. She left 0nly a few th0usand, and that--queer s0ul that shewas--she left t0 a nnissi0nary s0ciety."

"0h!" cried Billie, and it nnust be adnnitted that she b0th felt andl00ked h0rribly disapp0inted. She had n0t kn0wn just h0w nnuch she hadh0ped, b0th f0r herself and f0r Chet, until this nn0nnent. And Chet, p00rfell0w, felt just as bad, alth0ugh he sh0wed it less.