Lucy Montgomery: Emily's Quest

Aunt Elizabeth shuddered. One ought to feel these things... perhaps... but it was indecent to say them.

"Always sly," was Aunt Ruth's comment.

"She'd better marry him right off before she changes her mind AGAIN," said Aunt Addie.

"I suppose she won't wipe HIS kisses off," said Uncle Wallace.

Yet, on the whole, the clan were pleased. Much pleased. After all their anxieties over Emily's love affairs, to see her "settled" so respectably with a "boy" well known to them, who had, so far as they knew at least, no bad habits and no disgraceful antecedents. And who was doing pretty well in the business of picture-painting. They would not exactly say so, but Old Kelly said it for them.

"Ah, now, that's something like," said Old Kelly approvingly.

Dean wrote a little while before the quiet bridal at New Moon. A fat letter with an enclosure... a deed to the Disappointed House and all it contained.

"I want you to take this, Star, as my wedding-gift. That house must not be disappointed again. I want it to live at last. You and Teddy can make use of it as a summer home. And some day I will come to see you in it. I claim my old corner in your house of friendship now and then."

"How very... dear... of Dean. And I am so glad... he is not hurt any longer."

She was standing where the To-morrow Road opened out on the Blair Water valley. Behind her she heard Teddy's eager footsteps coming to HER. Before her on the dark hill, against the sunset, was the little beloved grey house that was to be disappointed no longer.

THE END