'Do you think you can? You look dreadfully bad still.'

'I shan't get any better here,' replied the invalid in a whisper. 'Poor
Virgie does depress me so. She doesn't understand that I can't bear to
hear her repeating the kind of things she has heard from Miss Barfoot
and Miss Nunn. She tries so hard to look forward hopefully--but I
_know_ she is miserable, and it makes me more miserable still. I
oughtn't to have left you; I should have been all right in a day or
two, with you to help me. You don't make-believe, Milly; it's all real
and natural good spirits. It has done me good only to see your dear old
face.'

'Oh, you're a flatterer. And do you really feel better?'

'Very much better. I shall go to sleep very soon.'

The visitor took her leave. When, a few minutes after, Monica had
bidden good-night to her sister (requesting that the lamp might be
left), she read what Mildred had brought.

'MY DEAREST MONICA,'--the missive began--'Why have you not written
before this? I have been dreadfully uneasy ever since receiving your
last letter. Your headache soon went away, I hope? Why haven't you made
another appointment? It is all I can do to keep from breaking my
promise and coming to ask about you. Write at once, I implore you, my
dearest. It's no use telling me that I must not use these words of
affection; they come to my lips and to my pen irresistibly. You know so
well that I love you with all my heart and soul; I can't address you
like I did when we first corresponded. My darling! My dear, sweet,
beautiful little girl--'

Four close pages of this, with scarce room at the end for 'E.W.' When
she had gone through it, Monica turned her face upon the pillow and lay
so for a long time. A clock in the house struck eleven; this roused
her, and she slipped out of the bed to hide the letter in her
dress-pocket. Not long after she was asleep.

The next day, on returning from her work and opening the sitting-room
door, Mildred Vesper was greeted with a merry laugh. Monica had been
here since three o'clock, and had made tea in readiness for her
friend's arrival. She looked very white, but her eyes gleamed with
pleasure, and she moved about the room as actively as before.

'Virgie came with me, but she wouldn't stay. She says she has a most
important letter to write to Alice--about the school, of course. Oh,
that school! I do wish they could make up their minds. I've told them
they may have all my money, if they like.'