amination, and he hopes that I
may be much helped by an operation. He is going to bring another surgeon
to see me to-morrow, and if they agree in their opinion, I am to go to a
hospital."

Miss Graham spoke cheerfully, but there was a slight tremor in her
voice, and Marjorie grew suddenly grave. They were both silent for a
moment, and then Marjorie said:

"Isn't Beverly a dear, and don't you like Dr. Randolph ever so much,
too?"

"I do indeed," said Miss Jessie, heartily. "I shall never forget their
kindness during that long journey. As for Undine, she could not have
been more devoted to me if she had been my own little niece. It has been
a wonderful experience, Marjorie; I never expected to see the East
again."

Marjorie bent and kissed her.

"Beautiful things do happen in the world as well as sad ones, don't
they?" she said, softly. "When I think of you and Mother being here, and
of Mrs. Randolph having found her Barbara, my heart is so full it seems
as if it must surely burst. Here comes Mother; perhaps she will be able
to tell us how Mrs. Randolph has borne the shock."

Mrs. Graham's news was most reassuring.

"I have seen Beverly," she said, "and he says his mother is quite calm
now. At first they were anxious about her, but only for a little while.
Beverly says his uncle thinks it was a fortunate thing you were able to
prepare her a little before they came, Marjorie; otherwise it would have
been more difficult to break the news to her."

Marjorie gave a long sigh of relief.

"I'm so glad it wasn't wrong," she said. "I was horribly frightened
after I had begun, but when Mrs. Randolph showed me that picture, it
came to me all at once to tell her about Undine. I thought that if she
heard of one girl who was saved from the earthquake, she might be able
to believe that another girl was saved, too."

Mrs. Graham and Miss Jessie both smiled, and then Mrs. Graham said she
must obey the doctor's instructions, and see that her sister-in-law was
kept quiet, and went to sleep early.

Marjorie and her mother had a long talk that night, after Aunt Jessie
was asleep, and the girl opened her heart as she had not done since
leaving home, and Mrs. Graham learned of many things that she had not
been told in letters.

"I think Elsie really does like me now," finished Marjorie, when she had
told of the many heartaches caused by the fear that her cousin did not
like her. "She has been very sweet since I came back from V