s she folded the delicate sheet
and put it back into its pearl-gray envelope with the silver seal. "It
must have cost her an effort to repeat Mr. Pennypacker's words. Poor old
man! I am glad he is comfortable. I must send him a little box at
Christmas,--some little things to trim up his new house and prettify it.
Oh! and now, Bell, now for your letter! I have kept it for the last, my
dear, as if it were raisins or chocolate, only it is better than
either."

[Illustration: BELL'S LETTER]

The fat square envelope that she now opened contained several sheets of
paper, closely covered, every page filled from top to bottom with a
small, firm handwriting, but no line of crossing. The Merryweathers were
not allowed to cross their letters, under penalty of being condemned to
write entirely on postal cards. Let us peep over Hildegarde's shoulder,
and see what Bell has to say.

"DEAREST HILDEGARDE:

"It is two full weeks since I have written, and I
am ashamed; but it is simply because they _have_
been full weeks,--very full! There is so much to
tell you, I hardly know where to begin. A week ago
to-night our play came off,--'The Mouse Trap.' It
went beautifully,--not a hitch anywhere, though we
had only had five rehearsals. I was Willis, as I
told you. I wore my ulster without the cape, and
really looked quite masculine, I think. I had a
curly, dark-brown wig (my hair tucked down my
neck,--it didn't show at all!) and the prettiest
little moustache! Marion Wilson was Amy, and she
screamed most delightfully. In fact, they all
screamed in such a natural and heartfelt way, that
some of the ladies in the audience seemed to feel
quite uncomfortable, and I am sure I saw Madame
Mirabelle tuck her skirts close around her
feet, and put her feet up on the bench in front of
her. Well, we all did our best, though Clarice
Hammond was the best; she is a born actress! and
the audience was very cordial, and we were called
before the curtain five times; and altogether it
was a great success. I enclose a flower from a
bouquet that was thrown at me. It was a beauty,
and it struck me right on the head. I thought it
was for Clarice, and was going to hand it to her,
but