There were many anxious eyes on the lookout for their arrival, as Dexie noted with shame, but she determined to face the matter boldly, and if possible make some amends for the trouble and anxiety she had caused.

The front door of both houses opened simultaneously as the sleigh drove up, Mr. Sherwood appearing at one and Cora at the other, and a hundred questions could not have asked more than the one word which fell from the lips of both—­

“Well?”

Dexie sprang out on the sidewalk, and with a wave of her hand in Lancy’s direction, answered the question in dramatic tones: 

“See! the conquering hero comes!”

That was enough; they all understood her, and Elsie, who was standing on the doorstep, flew into the house where the busy needles were flying, shouting as she ran: 

“Yes! she is going!  Lancy has managed her!  She is all right again!”

“There, save that little comedy till by and by, and come in here,” said Mr. Sherwood, smiling, in spite of himself at the way Dexie had announced her surrender.

“Come into our house as soon as you can, Dexie,” Cora called after her retreating figure.  “We want you for something.”

What a feeling of relief her arrival caused!  They had scarcely realized how great was the tension until their anxiety was removed.  But all seemed to breathe more freely, and the preparations for the concert went briskly on.

Dexie threw off her wraps in the hall, and followed her father into the sitting-room, where Aunt Jennie sat waiting.

“You are back, my dear,” was the aunt’s quiet greeting.

“Yes, auntie, and ready to eat all the humble pie you have prepared for me.”

“I have prepared none, my dear, but I am pleased to see that you are ready and willing to eat some.  Your father has passed a miserable time waiting for your appearance.”

“Poor papa!” and Dexie threw her arms around his neck.  “How horrid I have been, to be sure.  Now, lay on the stripes easy, and I’ll promise not to do so any more,” and she playfully held out her hand.

“You had better not, you little tyrant,” drawing her to him.  “I believe my hair has turned grey with the anxiety you have caused me.”

“Oh, so it has! here is one hair quite grey; yes, actually two of them!  I’ll show you,” and a couple of hairs were withdrawn with a jerk.

“Stop! you torment,” catching her by both arms.  “Isn’t it enough that my hair has turned grey?  Must you make me bald as well?  I thought Lancy was going to sober you down before he brought you back.  I’ll have to call him in to finish his job.”

“No, I’m going to be good, I really am; so say you are not cross with me any more, then I must run off and see about my dress.”

“Well, I’ll forgive you this time; but if you cut up any more such capers, I’ll hand you over to young Gurney for good.”

“But I won’t be handed over, you dear old papa,” giving him a squeeze that almost choked him.  “I will not exchange my papa for the best-looking young gentleman you can find in the city.  But, papa! do persuade Gussie to leave my shortcomings alone, for the next few hours at least,” she added, in a low tone.