It was a pleasant picture for a tired woman to gaze on, and the ruddy glow of the fire was reflected in Gabriella's heart while she enfolded her children.

After a day in Madame's hothouse atmosphere, it was delightful to return to this little centre of peace and love, and to feel that its very existence depended upon the work of her brain and hands.

The children, she realized, had never loved her so dearly.

In better days, when she was rarely separated from them for more than a few hours at a time, they had seemed rather to take her care and her presence for granted; but now, after an absence of nine hours, she had become a delight and an enchantment, something to be looked forward to and longingly talked about through the whole afternoon.
"Mother, you've been away forever," said Fanny, folding her veil for her and putting away her furs.
"Are you going every day just like this for ever and ever?
"Every day, darling, but I'm here every night.

Shall I run back to the kitchen and broil the chops, Miss Polly ?" But the chops were already broiled, for Miss Polly had finished her sewing early, and she had beaten up two tiny cups of custard for the children.
"It's nicer than nursery suppers, isn't it, Fanny ?" asked Archibald a little later while he ate his bread and milk from a blue bowl.