ars were getting ready to go, Bessie Harper
came running to her with a letter in her hand.

'This is for you, Frances,' she said. 'It is from my sister Camilla,
who was here, you know, when you first came, for a little.'

Frances was staring at the letter in surprise.

'I scarcely knew your sister at all,' she said. 'She was so big compared
with me--even with Jacinth.'

'Ah well, you will understand when you've read it. It came inside one to
me,' said Bessie. 'It'll be all right when you've read it. But I must
go.' And off she ran.

Frances looked again at the envelope and then deposited the letter in
her pocket. She had a feeling that she would read it when she was alone,
for she began to have some idea what it was about. She read it at home
that afternoon. It ran as follows:

SOUTHCLIFF, _October 7th_.

MY DEAR FRANCES--I am writing to you instead of my mother,
for as you and I were, though only for a short time,
school-fellows, we think perhaps I can explain better what
Bessie's letter makes us think necessary to say. Mother is
not vexed with Margaret for what she told you, for there is
nothing secret about us or our history, though there have
been sad things in father's family long ago, as you know.
Bessie told us of your kind feelings about us, and though I
saw so little of you, I can well believe them. But with
regard to our great-aunt, both my father and mother hope she
will hear nothing about us. Father has long left off any
thought of friendly relations with her. Of course there is
no reason why our name should not be mentioned to her by
yourself, or your sister, if it happened to come up in
conversation; but we should be sorry for her to think we
murmured about being poor, or that any of us ever thought of
her as a rich relation who might help us. So we shall all be
very glad indeed if you will try to forget that you know
anything of us Harpers except as school-fellows who will
always be pleased to count you a true friend. Mother wishes
you to do just what you think best about showing this
letter to your sister or not. And of course you will tell
your mother anything or everything about the matter. Yours
affectionately,

CAMILLA HARPER.

Frances gave a sigh.

'I won't show it to Jacinth,' she thought. 'Aunt Al