er, and fix that up. Now don't you worry, Mother. You
know he promised to bring her home a lot, and it ain't as if he hadn't
got money enough to travel, let alone a nottymobeel. I shouldn't wonder
maybe if we could go see them, even, some time. We could get to see the
university then, too, and go look at Steve's room. You'd like that,
wouldn't you, Mother?"

Bonnie did not go into the dining-room to surprise them. Instead, she
stole away down in the orchard to hide her tears.

A little later she saw the postman ride up to the letter-box on the
gate-post and drop in a letter, and all else was forgotten.

Yes, from Paul! A lovely, big, thick letter!

Mother and Father Marshall and their sadness suddenly vanished from her
thoughts, and she hurried back to a big stump in the orchard, where she
often read her letters.

CHAPTER XXXV

DEAR BONNIE ROSE [she read, and smiled tenderly. He
was always getting her a new name]:

"I've been to see Tennelly at last, and he's great! What do
you think? He's not only coming to the wedding, but he's
asked if I will let him be best man, unless I'd rather have
Pat! I told Pat, and you ought to have heard him roar. "Fat
chance! Me best man, with you two fellows around!" he said.

Father and my stepmother will come; but please tell Mother
Marshall she needn't worry because they will only stay for
the ceremony. I know she was a little troubled about my
stepmother, lest things would seem plain to her; bless her
dear heart! But she needn't at all, for she's a kindly soul,
according to her lights. She's not to blame that they're
only candle-lights instead of sunlight. They will come in
their private car, which will be dropped off from the
morning train and picked up by the night express at the
Junction, so you see they'll have to leave for Sloan's
Station early in the afternoon.

But the greatest news of all I heard to-night! Pat brought
it, as usual. It beats all how he finds out pleasant things.
You remember how we wished that Burns hadn't gone to China
yet, so he could marry us? Well, he's coming back. He's been
sent on some errand or other for the government, in company
with a Chinaman or two, and he's due in San Francisco a week
before the wedding. I've sent a wireless to ask him to stop
over and take part in the ceremony. I was sure this would