s a certain old friend of his
in Elmbrook he must see. He was not going to tell even her about him,
because it was to be a big surprise. He felt like going out and
shooting up the town when he thought about it all.

Miss Arabella had taken the letter to Elsie soon after its arrival, and
had read parts of it aloud. Whom did Elsie suppose he meant by an old
friend in the village? She couldn't remember that he had known any one
here very well, except William. Martin and William had taken to each
other from the first. Yes, likely he meant William.

Elsie was fashioning a white lace ruffle for the collar of the blue
silk gown, and bent her shining head lower over her work. Here was
another proof of Martin's whole-souled generosity. There was not a
hint of blame for his ungrateful friend.

"D'ye know, Elsie," said Miss Arabella hesitatingly, "it jist makes me
feel bad to see you sewing anything for that dress,
because--because--it was to have been yours, you know."

"But, indeed, Arabella, you know I'd far rather see you wear it. When
should I ever put on such a grand dress as that, with all the work I
have to do?"

"Oh, but I Intended it for your wedding dress! You mind, I told you?"

"Wedding dress!" Elsie laughed. "Why, Arabella, it might have been
worn into rag-carpet strips before I'd need it!"

"But I thought--it seemed to me, he--he always acts as if he liked you
so awful, Elsie."

"He? Who? Do you mean Lauchie McKitterick or Sawed-Off Wilmott, or
Sandy McQuarry, or whom do you mean, Arabella Winters?"

"Oh, dear me, Elsie!" Miss Arabella gave a half-distressed little
laugh. "You know they wouldn't, one o' them, dast look at you. You
know right well I mean the doctor."

The girl bent lower over her work, and a flush crept over her face.
She shook her head decidedly. "Oh, no! no! Arabella. You are all
wrong. Dr. Allen has no more idea of caring for me in that way than I
of caring for him. Come, let me see if these wrist-bands are large
enough."

Miss Arabella felt the gentle rebuke, and sighed. It was really too
bad, because they were both so good-looking, and so well suited, and so
young. And the faded little lilac lady thought regretfully of her lost
youth.

The second letter allayed any lingering fears Elsie had felt regarding
the elopement. According to Dr. Allen, she might safely trust Arabella
to Martin Heaslip, and his own words went to prove the same. So if
they wanted to