chooner, enlightened me regarding Mr. Lamb's history,
of which I was entirely ignorant while at Bridesdale. I should be
sorry to think I had been guilty of wilfully wounding the feelings
of anyone in whom you take the slightest interest, and I trust you
will pardon me for writing that, apart from my natural gratitude
for your patience with me and your kindness to me, a mere stranger,
there is no one in the world I should be more sorry to offend than
yourself.
Believe me,

My dear Miss Carmichael,
Ever yours faithfully,
EUGENE CORISTINE.

P.S.--I have taken the liberty of addressing to you some trifles I
thought might interest the kind friends at Bridesdale. E.C.

The note was satisfactory so far as it went, but there was not enough of
it; no word about the gloves, the ring, the half confession, the
promise, no word about coming back. Still, it was better than nothing.
Eugene could be dignified too; she would let everybody see that letter.

"I hope you had a nice letter, Marjorie?" asked Mrs. Carruthers. "You
would like, perhaps, to read what Mr. Coristine has to say to me." Her
niece replied that the letter was quite satisfactory, and the ladies
exchanged documents. That of Mrs. Carruthers read:--

_Dear Mrs. Carruthers_,--Since I left your hospitable mansion I
have been like a boy that has lost his mother, not to speak of the
rest of the family. I look at myself like the poor newsboy, who was
questioned about his parents and friends, and who, to put an end to
the enquiries, answered: "Say, mister, when you seen me, you seen
all there is on us." Please tell Marjorie Thomas, and your own
little ones, that, perhaps, if I am good and am allowed, I may run
up before the end of next month, to see if the fall flowers are
out, and if they have left any crawfish and shiners in the creek.
Will you kindly give the inclosure to Miss Carmichael, with whom,
through my foolishness, I had an awkward misunderstanding that
still troubles me a good deal. If I had known I was offending her,
I would not have done it for the world. I cannot sufficiently thank
you for your great kindness to my friend Wilkinson and me, nor
shall I soon forget the happiest days of my life in your delightful
home. Please make m