rs. Campbell: "There was no need of eavesdropping. I could have heard
you out at Loon Rock Light, you shouted so. But as soon as I recognized
Mr. Welling's voice I came to the top of the stairs and listened. I was
sure you would do something foolish. But now I think we had better make
a clean breast of it, and tell Mr. Welling just what we've done. We
knew, of course, the letter wasn't for me, and we thought we wouldn't
vex you about it, but just send it to the one it _was_ meant for. We've
surprised your secret, Mr. Welling, though we didn't intend to; but if
you'll accept our congratulations--under the rose, of course--we won't
let it go any further. It does seem so perfectly ideal, and I feel like
saying, Bless you, my children! You've been in and out here so much this
summer, and I feel just like an elder sister to Margaret."

Welling: "Margaret?"

Mrs. Campbell: "Well, Miss Rice, then--"

Welling: "Miss Rice?"

Mrs. Campbell, with dignity: "Oh, I'm sorry if we seem to presume upon
our acquaintance with the matter. We couldn't very well help knowing it
under the circumstances."

Welling: "Certainly, certainly--of course: I don't mind that at all: I
was going to tell you, anyway: that was partly the reason why I came
instead of writing--"

Campbell, in an audible soliloquy: "I supposed he _had_ written."

Mrs. Campbell, intensely: "Don't interrupt, Willis! Well?"

Welling: "But I don't see what Miss Rice has to do with it."

Mrs. Campbell: "You don't see! Why, isn't Margaret Rice the one--"

Welling: "What one?"

Mrs. Campbell: "The one that you're engaged--the one that the note was
really _for_?"

Welling: "No! What an idea! Miss Rice? Not for an instant! It's--it's
her friend--Miss Greenway--who's staying with her--"

Mrs. Campbell, in a very awful voice: "Willis! Get me some water--some
wine! Help me! Ah! Don't touch me! It was you, _you_ who did it all!
Oh, _now_ what shall I do?" She drops her head upon Campbell's shoulder,
while Welling watches them in stupefaction.

Campbell: "It's about a million times nicer than we could have expected.
That's the way with a nice thing when you get it started. Well, young
man, you're done for; and so are we, for that matter. We supposed that
note which you addressed to Mrs. Campbell was intended for Miss Rice--"

Welling: "Ho, ho, ho! Ah, ha, ha! Miss Rice? Ha--"

Campbell: "I'm glad you like it. You'll enjoy the rest of it still
better. We thought it was f