actions to an
old-fashioned gentlewoman like Miss Pyne, and Helena herself was
amazingly happy; one day there had come a letter to Ashford, in which
her very heart seemed to beat with love and self-forgetfulness, to tell
cousin Harriet of such new happiness and high hope. "Tell Martha all
that I say about my dear Jack," wrote the eager girl; "please show my
letter to Martha, and tell her that I shall come home next summer and
bring the handsomest and best man in the world to Ashford. I have told
him all about the dear house and the dear garden; there never was such
a lad to reach for cherries with his six-foot-two." Miss Pyne,
wondering a little, gave the letter to Martha, who took it deliberately
and as if she wondered too, and went away to read it slowly by herself.
Martha cried over it, and felt a strange sense of loss and pain; it
hurt her heart a little to read about the cherry-picking. Her idol
seemed to be less her own since she had become the idol of a stranger.
She never had taken such a letter in her hands before, but love at last
prevailed, since Miss Helena was happy, and she kissed the last page
where her name was written, feeling overbold, and laid the envelope on
Miss Pyne's secretary without a word.

The most generous love cannot but long for reassurance, and Martha had
the joy of being remembered. She was not forgotten when the day of the
wedding drew near, but she never knew that Miss Helena had asked if
cousin Harriet would not bring Martha to town; she should like to have
Martha there to see her married. "She would help about the flowers,"
wrote the happy girl; "I know she will like to come, and I 'll ask
mamma to plan to have some one take her all about Boston and make her
have a pleasant time after the hurry of the great day is over."

Cousin Harriet thought it was very kind and exactly like Helena, but
Martha would be out of her element; it was most imprudent and girlish
to have thought of such a thing. Helena's mother would be far from
wishing for any unnecessary guest just then, in the busiest part of her
household, and it was best not to speak of the invitation. Some day
Martha should go to Boston if she did well, but not now. Helena did
not forget to ask if Martha had come, and was astonished by the
indifference of the answer. It was the first thing which reminded her
that she was not a fairy princess having everything her own way in that
last day before the wedding. She knew that