as Miss Marshall had not shed for years.
Something warm and sweet and gentle seemed to thrill to life within
her heart. So those girls were not such selfish, heedless young
creatures as she had supposed! How kind it had been in Cyrilla Blair
to think of her and write so to her. She no longer felt lonely and
neglected. Her whole sombre world had been brightened to sunshine by
that merry friendly letter.

Mrs. Plunkett's table was surrounded by a ring of smiling faces that
night. Everybody seemed in good spirits in spite of the weather. The
pale little dressmaker, who had hardly uttered a word since her
arrival a week before, talked and laughed quite merrily and girlishly,
thanking Cyrilla unreservedly for her "jolly letter." Old Mr. Grant
did not grumble once about the rain or the food or his rheumatism and
he told Carol that she might be a good letter writer in time if she
looked after her grammar more carefully--which, from Mr. Grant, was
high praise. All the others declared that they were delighted with
their letters--all except Miss Marshall. She said nothing but later
on, when Cyrilla was going upstairs, she met Miss Marshall in the
shadows of the second landing.

"My dear," said Miss Marshall gently, "I want to thank you for your
letter, I don't think you can realize just what it has meant to me. I
was so--so lonely and tired and discouraged. It heartened me right up.
I--I know you have thought me a cross and disagreeable person. I'm
afraid I have been, too. But--but--I shall try to be less so in
future. If I can't succeed all at once don't mind me because, under it
all, I shall always be your friend. And I mean to keep your letter and
read it over every time I feel myself getting bitter and hard again."
"Dear Miss Marshall, I'm so glad you liked it," said Cyrilla frankly.
"We're all your friends and would be glad to be chummy with you. Only
we thought perhaps we bothered you with our nonsense."

"Come and see me sometimes," said Miss Marshall with a smile. "I'll
try to be 'chummy'--perhaps I'm not yet too old to learn the secret of
friendliness. Your letter has made me think that I have missed much in
shutting all young life out from mine as I have done. I want to reform
in this respect if I can."

When Cyrilla reached the front room she found Mrs. Plunkett there.

"I've just dropped in, Miss Blair," said that worthy woman, "to say
that I dunno as I mind your making candy once in a while if you want
to. Only