NOW that it was all over they could come down to see her .sx Paying their last respects to the departed , .sx they called it .sx Betty and Mona and Vivienne and Phyl .sx In rustling , fashionable , frivolous black .sx Smart .sx Up-to-the-minute .sx Town girls .sx Nita , moving about the house in her shabby serge , dyed for the occasion , felt little and frumpy and dowdy compared with these others .sx They despised her , and she knew they had resented the fact of Mother adopting her years ago .sx Now , when they realised just why Mother had adopted her , they raised plucked eyebrows and manicured .sx hands , and , almost , drew their skimpy skirts away from her .sx Mother , out of her charity , had taken Nita to her heart .sx and home when Nita was a lovable and loveless little girl .sx She had been " poor Gerty Westmore's " daughter .sx Nobody .sx wanted her , least of all Gerty Westmore .sx Ever .sx since then , Nita had lived with mother , cared for her , nursed her , read to her , looked after her , made her happy .sx as , one by one , Mother's own children left their home .sx Mother knew they would come back to her in the end .sx Phyl would grow tired of her bachelor-girl life in London .sx Mona would weary of drifting about Europe as somebody's paid companion .sx Betty and Vivienne would bring her grand-children to cuddle .sx Larry why , Larry was coming back from the ends of the earth a millionaire .sx " When my fortune is made , " he told Mother , " I shall come home .sx And I shall bring you a ruby as big as a pigeon's egg !sx " .sx They had laughed about it then Mother and Larry .sx " When you come home , darling , " Mother had said , smoothing his dark , rebellious hair back from his face , " I shan't want rubies or fortunes .sx I shall only want you .sx Hurry up and come home , Larry , won't you ?sx " .sx A prayer that Nita had echoed every night to the portrait of Larry that hung in her room .sx " When you come home , Larry , " she breathed , " I I think I'll just die of happiness !sx " .sx But they had not heard from Larry for years .sx Probably he was too busy making his first million , or hunting for that pigeon's egg ruby .sx As for the girls well , Phyl was far too happy in her Bloomsbury flat to want to settle down in the country again .sx And Mona loved her wandering life over the face of Europe .sx Vivienne had divorced that handsome husband of hers , and was never going to marry again .sx Betty had no children .sx Neither Betty nor Jack cared for children .sx It seemed as though all Mother's wishes and dreams had vanished into thin air .sx Only Nita remained Nita , whom nobody wanted .sx Mother was surprised Nita did not marry .sx Such a capable girl .sx Such a good cook .sx Nice to look at , because most men admired tawny hair and deep brown eyes .sx The very wife for Martin Bates or Ben Sanders , or Will Donovan .sx The way they hung around her after church was enough to turn any girl's head .sx Wouldn't Nita consider .sx .. But Nita laughed a little , and said she guessed she wasn't a marrying girl , anyway .sx " You're not thinking of me , child ?sx " asked Mother , anxiously .sx " You're not to let me stand in your way .sx I could always go and live with one of my girls .sx " " No no , it isn't that , " cried Nita , hastily , and then , changing the subject , she began to talk of lemon cheese .sx " Don't you think it is time I made some ?sx Eggs are cheap , now , and the larder shelves are looking pretty empty .sx I'll start to-morrow .sx " And Mother , immersed in household affairs , would forget all about Martin and Ben and Will .sx Nita would forget , too .sx There was only one man whom she could never .sx forget .sx And he was the other side of the world looking for fabulous rubies .sx Mother never guessed Nita's secret .sx Nita seemed so much one of the family , so like a sister to Larry , that it would have been impossible to think of her ever having fallen in love with him .sx The girls did not guess , either which was lucky for Nita .sx The idea of poor Gerty Westmore's daughter marrying their own brother would have been preposterous .sx Larry must do better for himself than that .sx Larry had wit , charm , ability .sx Larry could marry above his station , as Betty and Vivienne had done .sx That was how the girls would have talked if they had even guessed at Nita's secret .sx Larry did not know it either .sx He had gone away when Nita was seventeen ten years ago .sx He had kissed her good-bye just as if she had been his real sister .sx Ten years makes a difference in a girl's life .sx He had left her sweet , fresh , with the healthy prettiness of youth .sx He would come back if he ever did come back to find her a woman , with duties and cares and worries written in little lines about her eyes .sx Larry , who had travelled , would think as little of her as Betty and Mona and Vivienne and Phyl .sx They were not sure what was to become of Nita .sx They talked over her future after they had taken Mother to the green shade of Wickleby churchyard .sx It seemed that Mother had left the old house and all its Victorian furnishings to Nita .sx By right it should have gone to the eldest Larry .sx But where was Larry ?sx Probably dead .sx The sisters were glad the old house had not been bequeathed to them .sx It was out-of-date and inconvenient .sx As for going back to Wickleby to live !sx Why , they just couldn't have faced that .sx Much better for Nita to get out of the house and rid herself of the furniture .sx With the money she could buy a little cottage , or take a trip abroad , or go in for some career .sx But Nita was staying on .sx Silly of her .sx They tried to talk her out of it .sx " What are you going to live on ?sx " they asked .sx " I can manage all right , " said Nita proudly .sx " The garden and the bees and the fowls will make me self-supporting .sx I might take in boarders for the summer I can teach a little .sx I can make jams and jellies and pickles .sx And I can always sew .sx " " First of all , you must get rid of all these Victorian fallals , " suggested Vivienne , " and buy some real , distinctive furniture .sx You don't want to live in a museum .sx " " It would change the character of the house if anything were altered , " cried Nita hotly .sx " It would not seem like home to me .sx " Vivienne shrugged her shoulders .sx " Have it your own way , then , but don't expect us to come trailing down every week-end to keep you company .sx Personally , it always depresses me to come here .sx It always reminds me of how frightfully poor we were in the old days .sx " " Well , that didn't affect us much , " said Nita , " it was mother and father who had to bear the brunt .sx " " Girls , here is the taxi .sx We must go , " broke in Betty .sx And back they went to town , to discard their mourning and take up their social duties once more .sx Mona and Betty and Vivienne and Phyl were busy women in their way .sx Nita was glad to see them go .sx The old house was not the same when they were there .sx They did not belong somehow .sx She wondered how Larry would fit in if he ever came back .sx Larry , with his millions and his rubies .sx The weeks went by quickly .sx Nita had so much to doin the house and the garden .sx Spring was coming along with all its work indoors and out-of-doors .sx She missed mother , but not so much as she would miss her next winter with its long evenings .sx Summer evenings were not so bad .sx She could take her sewing and sit under the lilac tree and listen to the rooks in the elms and watch the long , slow sunsets .sx Sometimes the sight of a strange car drawing up in the lane would set her heart thumping .sx Just like Larry to come back in a car one of those expensive ones , with silver fittings .sx Just like Larry to drive it up to the gate with a flourish .sx " When you come home , Larry , " she would whisper to his portrait , " you will find things so different .sx I can't take the place of mother , dear .sx But you will be changed , too .sx Changed beyond recognition .sx You will come home rich .sx You won't want me .sx The other girls will appeal to you more .sx Oh !sx Larry , when you come home !sx " .sx A CHANGED MAN .sx IT was a June evening and the end of one of those glorious days that are rare for their sweetness and beauty .sx Children laughing down the lane .sx A sky the colour of violets .sx Nita , sitting under the lilac tree , was feeling lonelier than ever .sx She shivered a little out in the garden , although it was not cold .sx She would go into the house and get supper and go to bed before it got really dark .sx She folded her work and walked back over the smooth turf to the house .sx And then she gave a sudden gasp .sx There was a man standing in the porch ; a man , shabby , unkempt , miserable .sx Nita stood still , a little fear clutching at her heart .sx Mother had known how to deal with such callers , but she felt at a loss .sx He took off his cap as she came up to him , and then she saw that he had thick dark hair inclined to wave .sx " Tell me , " he murmured , so low that she could scarcely hear him , " are you Betty ?sx " .sx She stared at him .sx " No .sx Why ?sx " " Which of them are you , then ?sx " " Nita , " she answered , looking puzzled .sx " Nita !sx Why , Nita was a little girl when I went away .sx " And then she knew who it was .sx " Larry !sx " .sx " Yes , it's Larry come home .sx They told me at the Inn that I shouldn't find mother here .sx Queer , that I should get home six months too late , isn't it ?sx Just the same old bad luck that's dogged me all my life .sx I should have liked to have seen mother once again .sx " " Larry come in .sx " She opened the door .sx " I'm the only one at home now .sx I'm glad I stayed .sx Mother wanted you to have the very best of welcomes when you came .sx " He followed her into the sitting-room .sx " 'Where are the other girls ?sx " he asked .sx Nita had a sudden inspiration .sx " There !sx " she cried , .sx and flung out her arm .sx In the corner hung the large studio portraits of the four girls .sx Vivienne , a white chiffon bride ; Betty , cuddling a Pekinese ; Mona , looking like a fashion-plate ; Phyl , smiling over an ostrich-feather fan .sx All carefully-groomed , exquisite , expensive .sx Larry examined the portraits and gave a little laugh .sx " So those are the girls ?sx Just as well they were not at home when I called .sx I shouldn't like them to be ashamed of their brother .sx " He spoke bitterly , conscious of his own shabbiness .sx " And now , Nita , let me have a look at you .sx " He seized her by the shoulders , and drew her up to the light .sx " No , I'm wrong .sx You haven't changed a scrap .sx Just the same dear old Nita I kissed good-bye when I went away .sx " So he remembered .sx She blushed a little .sx Larry remembered , but he had forgotten to kiss her now he had come back .sx Surely she was his sister Larry had turned away , and was looking around the room at familiar objects .sx Mother's chair , the little fretwork bracket he had made her , the sampler , the fire-screen worked in wools that had faded with the years , all the Victorian furnishings that mother had loved so much .sx Larry didn't despise them .sx It wouldn't have been home to him if they had not been there .sx " It's just the same , " he murmured .sx " Nothing's altered .sx And you live here , now , Nita ?sx " " Yes , " she answered quietly , " I live here , now .sx " " I see .sx " There was silence for a moment in the little room , then Nita said quickly , " How about supper , Larry ?sx I was just going to get it when you arrived .sx We'll have it out on the porch as we used to when we were children .sx Do you remember ?sx " .sx