ave met a surgeon. He is the gentleman in
whose car we went to New Haven last Saturday, and
he is just as nice and kind as he can be. He is
very clever too, and has performed some wonderful
operations, but oh, Undine dear, I am afraid I
shall never have the courage to speak to him about
Aunt Jessie. Arizona is so far away, and it would
be so terribly presumptuous to even suggest the
possibility of a great surgeon's taking such a
journey to see a person he didn't even know.
Still, if it could only happen--I pray about it
every day.

"I must stop writing now, and study a little
before breakfast. Be sure to write again very
soon, and don't forget to give me every scrap of
news about every one and everything. Kiss Roland's
dear soft nose for me, and tell him not to forget
his old mistress. Heaps of love and kisses for
everybody, with a good share for yourself thrown
in, from

"Your true friend,
"MARJORIE GRAHAM."

When Elsie entered the sitting-room, she found her uncle and cousin
already at the breakfast table. Mrs. Carleton had a headache, and was
breakfasting in bed. Mr. Carleton's morning greeting was as pleasant and
affectionate as usual, but Elsie merely vouchsafed a slight nod, and a
muttered "good-morning," and then kept her eyes steadily on her plate,
as though to avoid any friendly overtures on Marjorie's part.

"What are you little girls going to do to-day?" Mr. Carleton inquired
pleasantly, as he rose from the table.

"I'm going to dancing-school this morning," said Elsie, "and then to
lunch with Carol."

Mr. Carlton glanced inquiringly at Marjorie.

"And you?" he asked kindly--"are you going to dancing-school, too?"

Marjorie hesitated, and her color rose. It had been suggested that she
should accompany Elsie to the dancing class that morning, and that Aunt
Julia should make arrangements about having her admitted as a regular
pupil, but after what had happened last night she did not feel at all
sure that Elsie would desire her society.

"I'm--I'm not quite sure," she faltered; "I think Aunt Julia may want me
to go out with her."

Mr. Carleton looked a little troubled, and when he left the room he
beckoned his daughter to follow him.