And there
was a field or two of her own which, if Timothy were to see, he would
not compliment quite so highly; but this rain would work wonders in a
great many places. It hadn't come altogether too late.

In a slight lull which followed Timothy's third helping to ham, Miss
Letitia asked Arethusa if she had brought her father's letter back to
the house with her.

Arethusa's eyes shone immediately.

"Yes," she replied. Then she remembered, "No, I didn't either. I left
it down in the Hollow Tree."

"It happened to be _my_ letter," said Miss Eliza, drily.

"I know, but it won't be hurt. I can get it tomorrow. It'll keep
perfectly safe and dry. And, oh Aunt 'Liza, please let me go now! He
said just as soon as I could get ready. Please don't make me wait 'til
fall! Please!"

"Go where?" enquired Timothy.

Arethusa pretended that she had not heard him. Miss Eliza, however,
answered.

"Ross Worthington has married again, Timothy, and come back to America.
He wants Arethusa to come make him a visit."

Timothy dropped the biscuit he was holding halfway to his mouth.

"Since I was a yellow pup!" he ejaculated feelingly.

"You still are one," Arethusa remarked sweetly for him alone; but
Timothy magnanimously allowed this interpolation to pass without
retaliation.

"He married an American, thank heaven," continued Miss Eliza, "married
her over there somewhere. In Italy, I think he said. She seems to be
well-off. It was she sent the money to Arethusa for the visit."

Timothy picked up his biscuit, in his agitation he rebuttered it
extravagantly on top of butter already there, and resumed operations.

"Well," he said, between mouthfuls, "this is certainly some bunch of
news to hand a fellow all of a sudden. Arethusa's father married!
That's enough by itself for a starter!" For to the twenty-two year old
mind of Timothy, Ross Worthington seemed far too aged for anything like
matrimony. "But wanting Arethusa to come visit him! You going to let
her go, Miss Liza?"

"Of course she is!" burst from Arethusa, indignantly.

"Sister 'Titia and I and Sister 'Senath," replied Miss Eliza to
Timothy's question, as calmly as if Arethusa had not opened her mouth,
"have decided to let her go in the fall. Though I must say I'm not sure
it's wise to let her go at all. I never did think it was a very good
place for girls, or boys, either, for that matter, the city. Still,
Arethusa's never been and a little visit might not do her a