sailed yesterday with her maid for the south of
France, by the doctor's orders. Later, if she
is better, she is going back to Tours, where
she and I had such a happy year. Old Madame
Greville is no longer living in the villa near
the Gate of the Giant Scissors, but Cousin Kate
hopes to find lodgings near there. She has just
spent a week with us while she was making
preparations for her journey, and the visit
revived all her old interest in my work. She
was pleased to find that I am doing practical
money-making things like designing book-covers,
etc., but she wants me to widen my field, she
says.

"She insists on giving me this year abroad, and
says it is pure selfishness on her part,
because she may want to attach herself to our
Paris establishment later on. She is so alone
in the world. I am sure that I can make it up
to her some day, all that she is doing for me
now, in the way that will make her very happy.
So I am accepting as cordially as she is
giving. When I told her how long I have been
away from you all, and that I thought I'd take
part of my savings for a flying visit home, she
thought I ought to do so by all means, and said
that she wanted to add to the happiness of the
family, especially mamma's, by sending a
handsome Christmas present back with me.

"For several days it seemed as if she would not
be able to get exactly what she wanted, but it
was finally arranged, just at the last moment,
after much trouble on her part. It's perfectly
grand, but I've sworn not to even hint at what
it is. So expect me Christmas Eve with The
Surprise. I'll not write again in the meantime,
as I am so very, very busy. Till then good-bye.

"Yours lovingly and joyfully,
"JOYCE."

As Mrs. Ware looked up from her reading, everybody spoke at once. "It's
almost too good to be true," was Jack's quick exclamation. "What do you
suppose the surprise will be?" Norman's eager question. While Mary,
clasping her elbow with her hands, as if hugging herself in sheer
ecstasy, cried, "Oh, I just _love_ to be knocked flat and have my breath
taken away with unexpected news like that! It makes