ten closely covered pages by
heart. It had come a week ago, and had been read several times a day
since. It was a wonderful letter.

They wanted her--in California. In fact, they had always wanted her,
from the day she came away. She had stayed to see the new house built,
and had stayed for the wedding, and then had come back to Boston,
thinking her duty to Austin done, and herself free to take up the old
life with a clear conscience. But almost the first letters from the
rancho demanded her! Little Rafael had painfully written to know where
he could find this poem and that to which she had introduced him. Marty
had sent her a bird's nest, running over with ants when it was opened
in Cornelia's breakfast-room, but he never knew that. Jose had written
for advice as to seeds for Manzanita's garden. And Austin had written
he missed her, it was "rotten" not to find mater waiting for them, when
they came back from their honeymoon.

But best of all, Manzanita had written, and, ah, it was sweet to be
wanted as Manzanita wanted her! News of all the neighbors, of the women
at the mine, pressed wildflowers, scraps of new gowns, and questions of
every sort; Manzanita's letters brimmed with them. She could have her
own rooms, her own bath, she could have everything she liked, but she
must come back!

"I am the only woman here at the house," wrote Manzanita, "and it's no
fun. I'd go about ever so much more, if you were here to go with me. I
want to start a club for the women at the mine, but I never belonged to
a club, and I don't know how. Rose Harrison wants you to come on in
time for her wedding, and Alice has a new baby. And old Mrs. Larabee
says to tell you--"

And so on and on. They didn't forget her, on the Yerba Buena, as the
months went by. Mrs. Phelps grew to look eagerly for the letters. And
now came this one, and the greatest news in the world--! And now, it
was as it should be, Manzanita wanted her more than ever!

Cornelia came in upon her happy musing, to kiss her mother, send her
hat and furs upstairs, ring for tea, and turn on the lights, all in the
space of some sixty seconds.

"It was so interesting to-day, mater," reported Cornelia. "Cousin Emily
asked for you, and Edith and the Butlers sent love. Helen is giving a
bridge lunch for Mrs. Marye; she's come up for Frances' wedding on the
tenth. And Anna's mother is better; the nurse says you can see her on
Wednesday. Don't forget the Shaw lecture Wednesday,