like them, that's all.

Well, sitting in her brother's lap--(what, fifteen years old?)--yes,
sitting in her brother's lap, she had to tell over and over again all
she thought and felt that afternoon, and to hear over and over again
what a dreadful time they had keeping the secret from her. How they
were so afraid that she would find out that they expected to meet her
brother--how he had been so anxious that she should not be told lest by
some accident he shouldn't arrive, and then she would be bitterly
disappointed and her Thanksgiving spoiled.

Accident! Letty shuddered each time that they reached that part of the
story, for she thought how nearly the accident had happened, and as she
knelt to say her prayers that night it was with a penitent heart that
she remembered how she had felt in the morning, and she had added
fervently, "Dear Lord, I thank Thee for this beautiful Thanksgiving."

THE KNIGHT'S DILEMMA.

(FROM CHAUCER.)

One of the nobles of King Arthur's court had grievously transgressed
the laws of chivalry and knightly honor, and for this cause had he been
condemned to suffer death. Great sorrow reigned among all the lords
and dames, and Queen Guinevere, on bent knees, had sued the king's
pardon for the recreant knight. At length, after many entreaties,
Arthur's generous heart relented, and he gave the doomed life into the
queen's hands to do with it as she willed.

Then Guinevere, delighted at the success of her suit with her royal
husband, sent for the knight to appear before her, in her own bower,
where she sat among the ladies of her chamber.

When the knight, who was called Sir Ulric, had reached the royal lady's
presence, he would have thrown himself at her feet with many thanks for
the dear boon which she had caused the king to grant him. But she
motioned him to listen to what she had to say, before she would receive
his gratitude.

"Defer all thanks, Sir Knight," said the queen, "until first I state to
thee the conditions on which thou yet holdest thy life. It is granted
thee to be free of death, if within one year and a day from this
present thou art able to declare to me what of earthly things all women
like the best. If in that time thou canst tell, past all dispute, what
this thing be, thou shalt have thy life and freedom. Otherwise, on my
queenly honor, thou diest, as the king had first decreed."

When the knight heard this he was filled with consternation and dismay
too