e, that common or garden kindness is
mirrored in kindness, that affection fairly boomerangs back! And after
all, you know, the thing that made the lamb love Mary so is the axis on
which the world turns! With which pearl of wisdom I give you
good-morrow!"

This time she went in earnest, and the Settlement workers were left alone
in their transformed parlor to consider the madness or merit of her
little plan. Michael saw her at breakfast next morning but she was gayly
uncommunicative as to her plans, and that night Mrs. Hills reported that
her star boarder (who had the two best and biggest rooms, now, and a
dressing-room and bath and her own telephone) had gone west for a month
or so for a change.

The first letter came two days later and was addressed to Miss Emma Ellis
at the Hope House Settlement, but the salutation was to them both----

DEAR EMMA ELLIS AND MICHAEL DARAGH,

I am writing this on the train as the intelligent readers will gather
from the chirography. I have just had my breakfast, and it was funny
to study the menu card for inexpensive nourishment with staying
powers. I shared a tiny table with a large gentleman whose rubicund
neck hung over his collar in back in what was distinctly not the line
of beauty, a chatty soul, conversation not at all impeded by food ...
needed a few table traffic regulations ... The noble head of the
animal to whose tribe he belongs beamed from his lapel and his genial
heart from his bright little eyes, and he worried heartily because I
didn't "tuck away a regular breakfast."

I had loads of fun getting my adventure trousseau together yesterday!
I flatter myself that I quite look the part,--my meek, brown serge
and cotton gloves and my oldest shoes and a well-meaning little hat
which took more courage than all the rest. I couldn't quite rise--or
sink--to a straw suitcase. I have my shabbiest one--without labels!
This is a slow, cheap train and my bye-bye box was in the upper flat,
and I haven't spent a penny for chocolate or magazines, and I'm
actually beginning to _be_ Edna Miles!

_Next Morning, Nearly in Chicago._

Last night the beamish Buffalo, who had chatted off and on all day
and had worried over my modest luncheon from across the aisle,
insisted that dinner was to be not only with but "on" him, but I only
consented on the "with" plan, and paid my own little check and