p and smile. Let's possess our souls in patience.
Incidental to the process we might restore the shattered faith of some
of our deluded correspondents. During the past six days it has pained me
to observe the postman arrive, full-handed, to turn away, alas,
empty-handed. I ask you as man to man--why this thusness? Now that we
are about to depart, it might be well to apprise our neglected families
of the fact."

"Emma, you are a noble woman," declared Miriam with deep conviction. "I
may not have noticed it before, but better late than never. I move that
we organize a writing school in the living-room for the purpose of
squaring ourselves with our too-trusting families and friends."

"What's the use in writing home now?" demanded Julia Emerson. "Sara and
I would get there almost as soon as our letters. We have to go
to-morrow, you know."

"I know." Emma held her handkerchief ostentatiously to her eyes. "Never
mind. You may write to _me_. You know I have always admired your nice
vertical handwriting. It takes me back to my first-reader days."

"Sorry I can't oblige you," giggled Julia, "but I'm not in the mood for
letter writing. I'm going to pack my trunk and send it to the station
before Sara has a chance to stuff half of her belongings into it."

"Such sisterly devotion," murmured Emma.

"Oh, I don't mind," was Sara's cheerful comment. "I've already packed my
sweater and two dresses in Julia's trunk. You'd better leave them there,
Julia, I haven't an inch of room left in my trunk to squeeze them into.
It is already jammed so full that you'll have to sit on the lid when I
get ready to lock it."

"Stung!" was Julia's inelegant comment. "This is what comes of being a
twin. I think I'd better hurry and gobble up the small trunk space that
is left me; otherwise I may have to carry a large part of my wardrobe
home in a bundle." Dread of such a contingency sent her fleeing up the
stairs in hot pursuit of her own welfare, oblivious to the pleasantries
which Emma and Sara called after her as she ran.

Seated around the long library table in the living-room, the
correspondence party made an attractive picture as, with earnest faces,
they bent themselves to the arduous task of letter-writing. With the
exception of Grace, all present were soon hard at work. One hand resting
lightly on a sheet of the monogrammed paper which Elfreda had provided
in profusion, with her other hand Grace nervously gripped her fountain
pen. Shou