"Oh, Sylvia, Sylvia, I'm engaged! That's him! It's been a mistake all the time, and we are going to be married at once. We are all going to be married! d.i.c.k and me, and you and Jack, and you are coming here to look after the house! I thought I couldn't be married because of Jack, and he thought he couldn't be married because of me, and now it's all right, and we can all be happy. I congratulate you, Sylvia!

Congratulate me! I made Jack let me tell you, for I knew you would be so surprised. Don't you feel too bewildered to take it in?"

"I do!" replied Sylvia, with much truth. Red as a rose was she, at this sudden and public announcement of her engagement, not knowing where to look, or what to say, yet with a consciousness of immense happiness to come, and unfeigned delight at the happy ending to Bridgie's love-story.

d.i.c.k Victor came forward and introduced himself, and presently they all seated themselves, and tried to discuss the future in staid, responsible fashion. The Captain expected to be quartered in England for the immediate future, but could not of course be certain of his ultimate movements. He proposed that he and Bridgie should look out for a furnished house, so as to have a home of their own and yet be ready for such changes as might arise.

Jack anxiously questioned Sylvia as to the responsibility which would be hers, and she professed herself only too ready to sister the two dear boys.

"And Pixie--I should love to have Pixie!" she cried, whereat Bridgie frowned, and fidgeted restlessly on the sofa.

"We will make definite arrangements later on," she said. "Everything cannot be decided at once. The boys will be quite enough trouble for you, me dear! They are as good as gold, but they will grow, and their clothes wear out so fast, and since we came to town they've taken a distaste to patches, and they want money in their own pockets, the same as the other boys they meet. 'If I give you some shillings just to jingle, and show they are there, will that satisfy you?' I asked Pat only last week, and he laughed in my face! It's hard to say 'No' when they smile at you, Sylvia, but you'll have to do it."

"I--don't--know!" said Sylvia slowly. The others looked at her questioningly, and she turned to Jack with a sparkling face. "I was waiting for a chance of telling you. Mr Nisbet telegraphed to Ceylon about father's death, and I've had a letter from his lawyers. It came last night, and I'm rich, Jack! Isn't it lovely?--really quite rich!

The lawsuit was settled in his favour, and he was coming home to settle, and now everything comes to me. I can help with the boys, and some day, when you are ready, we can go back to Knock, and live in the old home again! I've been so happy since I heard, thinking that at last I could do something for you too. You are pleased about it, aren't you, Jack?

Do say you are pleased!"

Jack's beaming smile was the best answer to that question.

"'Deed, I'm delighted!" he declared. "I'll spend money with any man alive, and the more there is, the better I'm pleased. We will stay where we are and see the boys settled, and let Geoffrey enjoy his lease, and then we'll go home, and I shall probably have some savings of my own to add to yours by that time, and not feel I am living on my wife. I'm thankful you have the money, and I'm thankful that I knew nothing of it before we were engaged."

"And so am I!" said Sylvia softly.

A week later there was a second conference, at which every member of the family put in an appearance, and the question of the hour was, "Who shall have Pixie? Where shall Pixie have her home?"

"I am the head of the family. It is the right thing that she should be with me. Sylvia and I would both like to have her, so it is unnecessary to discuss the point any further," said Mr Jack, with an air.

"I don't wish to say anything in the least unkind to Sylvia--you know that, don't you, dear?" cried Esmeralda the magnificent, sitting amidst billows of chiffon and lace, and smiling sweetly across the room. "But the fact remains that I am Pixie's real sister, and she is not; and I think a sister's claim comes before a brother's. Bridgie will have no settled home, and I am at Knock. Anyone might see at a glance that her home ought to be with me, under the circ.u.mstances."

"I want Pixie!" said Bridgie softly. "I want Pixie!"

And Pixie sat on the edge of the sofa, and looked from one to the other with bright, bird-like glances. Everyone wanted her, everyone had an argument to prove a prior claim; they were all arguing and struggling for the supreme happiness of welcoming her into their households. It was the happiest moment of her life.

"It's like Solomon and the babies!" she cried exultantly. "Ye'll have to cut me in threes, and divide the pieces. Esmeralda shall have my head, for the times when she loses her own; Sylvia shall have my feet, because she limps herself; and,"--she looked across the room deep into Bridgie's eyes--"Bridgie shall have my heart! It would be with her, anyway, wherever she went."

The tears brimmed over in Bridgie's eyes; Esmeralda frowned quickly, then glanced at Geoffrey, as he stood by her side, and softened into a smile.

Jack stifled a sigh, and said gravely--

"Pixie has settled the question for herself. After that confession there can be no more to say. Take her, Bridgie, but be generous and spare her to us for part of the year. We all need you, Pixie--wise little head, willing little feet, loving little heart--every single bit of you. Come and help us as often as you can."

THE END.