e envelope. As she spread out the heavy
businesslike sheet of paper within, a small folded enclosure fell from
it into her lap.

"Oh, mother!" Pauline caught up the narrow blue slip. She had never
received a check from anyone before. "Mother! listen!" and she read
aloud, "'Pay to the order of Miss Pauline A. Shaw, the sum of
twenty-five dollars.'"

Twenty-five dollars! One ought to be able to do a good deal with
twenty-five dollars!

"Goodness me!" Patience exclaimed. She had followed her sister
up-stairs, after a discreet interval, curling herself up unobtrusively
in a big chair just inside the doorway. "Can you do what you like with
it, Paul?"

But Pauline was bending over the letter, a bright spot of color on each
cheek. Presently, she handed it to her mother. "I wish--I'd never
written to him! Read it, mother!"

And Mrs. Shaw read, as follows--

NEW YORK CITY, May 31, 19--.

_Miss Pauline A. Shaw,
Winton, Vt._

MY DEAR NIECE: Yours of May 16th to hand. I am sorry to learn that
your sister Hilary appears to be in such poor health at present. Such
being the case, however, it would seem to me that home was the best
place for her. I do not at all approve of this modern fashion of
running about the country, on any and every pretext. Also, if I
remember correctly, your father has frequently described Winton to me
as a place of great natural charms, and peculiarly adapted to those
suffering from so-called nervous disorders.

Altogether, I do not feel inclined to comply with your request to make
it possible for your sister to leave home, in search of change and
recreation. Instead, beginning with this letter, I will forward you
each month during the summer, the sum of twenty-five dollars, to be
used in procuring for your sisters and yourself--I understand, there is
a third child--such simple and healthful diversions as your parents may
approve, the only conditions I make, being, that at no time shall any
of your pleasure trips take you further than ten miles from home, and
that you keep me informed, from time to time, how this plan of mine is
succeeding.

Trusting this may prove satisfactory,

Very respectfully,
PAUL A. SHAW.

"What do you think, mother?" Pauline asked, as Mrs. Shaw finished
reading. "Isn't it a very--queer sort of letter?"

"It is an extremely characteristic one, dear."

"I think," Patience could contain herself no longer, "that you are the
i