eturned from Oregon. As you know, I had decided
to have a plain talk with him. It began pleasantly enough, but before it
ended we were both very angry. He declared point-blank that after we
were married I would positively _have_ to give up my settlement work. He
said a great many hateful, sneering things about the poor people I've
been trying to help. I was going to give him back his ring then, but I
remembered what you advised about not being too hasty. So I told him I
wouldn't discuss the subject with him any more that evening.

"After that he was very pleasant. I suppose he thought he had won me
over to his point of view. When he had gone I sat for a long time on the
veranda thinking hard. Then I went upstairs to my room and wrote him,
breaking our engagement. Of course I cried a little. I was so unhappy.
Then I thought of you and felt like writing you about it. After I had
written both letters, I read them over; first the one to him, then
yours. It was after midnight and I was so tired. I suppose that is how I
happened to make the mistake of putting your address on his letter and
vice versa. He will be simply furious. I only hope that he doesn't write
you a hateful letter. If he writes to me, I'll send the letter back
unopened. You'd better do the same."

"No; I couldn't do that. It is perfectly proper for you to do so, but it
would appear cowardly on my part. Let us hope he doesn't bother to write
me. Does he know my surname and where I live?"

"Yes; I've told him of you a great many times. I wish now that I hadn't.
I am sure he will write you. It's a shame. I came to Oakdale to comfort
you and be comforted. Now I've landed both of us in a nice muddle."
Arline lifted a pair of mournful blue eyes to Grace.

In the presence of impending tragedy a sudden sense of the ridiculous
swept the two girls. Their eyes meeting, they began to laugh. It was the
first genuine mirth that had stirred Grace Harlowe since the day on
which she had left the Briggs' cottage to return to Oakdale.

"One ought not laugh over such a serious matter," apologized Arline,
with a half hysterical chuckle. "But I can't help thinking how surprised
you must have been to receive that letter to Stanley, and how wrathful
he must be by this time."

"I'd rather laugh over it than cry," smiled Grace. "Don't worry,
Daffydowndilly. I'm not afraid of any letter that Mr. Stanley Forde may
choose to send me. You had better write him another letter at once,