t have time to put towels in our
rooms and fill the pitchers before we are there. I
speak for the west corner one in the guest cabin,
which I had last year. Our dear love to you all.

Your affectionate JOHNNIE.

P.S. Please tell Mr. Young how happy we are that
his sister is recovering.

"This is too delicious!" said Elsie, when she had finished reading this
letter. "Dorry, who never has been here, and John, and for October, when
we so rarely have anybody! I think it is a sort of 'reward of merit' for
you, Clover, for taking such good care of Imogen Young."

"It's a most delightful one if it is. I half wish now that we hadn't
asked Lion to stay while his sister is gone. He's a dear good fellow,
but it would be nicer to have the others quite to ourselves, don't you
think so?"

"Clover dear," said Elsie, looking very wise and significant, "did it
never occur to you that there might be a little something like a
sentiment or tenderness between John and Lionel? Are you sure that she
would be so thoroughly pleased if we sent him off and kept her to
ourselves?"

"Certainly not. I never thought of such a thing."

"You never _do_ think of such things. I am much sharper about them than
you are, and I have observed a tendency on the part of Miss John to
send messages to that young man in her letters, and always in
postscripts. Mark that, _postscripts_! There is something very
suspicious in postscripts, and he invariably blushes immensely when I
deliver them."

"You are a great deal too sharp," responded Clover, laughing. "You see
through millstones that don't exist. It would be very nice if it were
so, but it isn't. I don't believe a word about your postscripts and
blushes; you've imagined it all."

"Some people are born stupid in these directions," retorted Elsie. "I'll
bet you Phillida's back-hair against the first tooth that Geoffy loses
that I am right."

CHAPTER IX.

THE ECHOES IN THE EAST CANYON.

LIONEL certainly did redden when Johnnie's message was delivered to him.
The quick-eyed Elsie noted it and darted a look at Clover, but Clover
only shook her head slightly in return. Each sister adhered to her own
opinion.

They were very desirous that the High Valley should make a favorable
impression on Dorry, for it was his first visit to them. The others had
all been there except Katy, and she had seen Cheyenne and St. He