, girls, did
you ever hear such wonderful news? Allen strong and well and Will
recovering splendidly, and both of them so sweet and loyal. Oh, I could
kiss that beautiful red-haired angel who brought all this happiness to
us. Where is he? Has he gone back again?"

"Yes, he has, and what do we care!" cried Grace wildly, her face
radiant. "Amy, you little goose, you're not crying are you? Don't you
know there isn't a thing in the world to cry about? Come on--laugh, you
sweet, comfy, little thing. Don't you know that Will is getting better
and keeps our pictures under his pillow? That darling, wonderful,
adorable boy. Great heavens!" She stopped suddenly and a dismayed
expression crept over her face. "Excuse me, please," and she was racing
up the stairs, leaving the girls to look after her, bewildered.

"What in the world," began Betty, when Amy lifted a face, shining
radiantly through her tears.

"Don't you know?" she said with an understanding born of her wonderful
happiness. "Grace has gone to tell her mother. You really can't blame
her for being in a hurry."

A few minutes later Grace called down to Amy.

"Come on up, Honey," she commanded. "Mother wants to speak to you."

After Amy had left the room, Mollie and Betty looked at each other
questioningly.

"I wonder if Mrs. Ford is going to welcome Amy into the family,"
chuckled Mollie.

"I hardly think so, since there isn't anything definitely settled yet,"
said Betty absently. She was thinking of Allen and what he had said in
the part of his letter she would not let Grace read. Her eyes shone
mistily and her heart sang. Allen, her Allen, was safe, and, oh, those
wonderful things he had said!

"It must be nice to be as happy as they are," Mollie said, with a little
sigh, and with a start Betty came out of her preoccupation.

"Oh, Mollie, dear, I--I forgot," she confessed, putting an arm about her
chum. "I was so selfishly taken up with my own happiness that I didn't
think!"

"It isn't your fault," said Mollie, smiling bravely. "You just can't be
happy enough to suit me. You know that, don't you, Betty?"

"Of course I do, you perfect brick!" said Betty, hugging her fondly.
"But we can't any of us be really happy until we know you are. But even
that is coming out all right, I'm sure of it," she finished gayly, her
old optimism fully restored.

Mollie started to shake her head moodily, thought better of it, and
smiled instead.

"I won't be a death's head