it, though denial was evidently what the other
craved.

The latter sighed deeply. "Then they're just as plain as ever, and
would give me away first thing," she said. "Dad used to say he had
never seen such big dimples as mother's, and that mine were just like
'em. He said if I had straight yellow hair and blue eyes, any one that
had seen her would know me. Oh, dear, aren't you lucky to have nothing
conspicuous about you? I'm sure you're not the image of any one,
Elsie-Honey, and you'll come to see me often enough to make up, won't
you?"

"Oh, yes, Elsie, unless he--Mr. Middleton--should object to my coming
to New York alone?"

"You'd better begin right away calling him Uncle John, so as to get
used to it as soon as you can," suggested the other. "And I'm sure he
won't object. I'm sure from his letters that he's not an old fuss, and
it's a straight trip with no changes from Boston to New York. And
Cousin Julia and I will meet you at the Grand Central!"

She grinned at her own _cheek_, as she called it, and the other Elsie
smiled happily.

"Just the same, I'm more than sorry not to be able to come to Enderby
to visit," Elsie Moss declared. "You know it would be simply stunning
practice, playing the stranger in my uncle's house--something like the
real wife in 'East Lynne,' you know."

"I never saw 'East Lynne.'"

"Dear me, I cried quarts and bucketsful over it. It's the most tragic
play! If I had time I could show you how it goes. I always act things
out over and over after I've seen them, making up words where I don't
remember them. But, alas! we haven't any time to spare with what we've
got ahead of us, have we, honey? Now we must arrange for meeting
Uncle--no, _I_ must call him _Mr._ Middleton."

On a sudden the girl clasped her hands in apparent distress.

"Oh, I never thought!" she cried. "It won't even be safe for Uncle
John to see me at the station in Boston. Well, I shall have to drop
behind and keep perfectly sober. I'll just watch out to see that
everything's all right with you, and then I'll skidoo. Dear me, I hope
I don't look so awfully unlike the Marleys as to frighten Cousin Julia?"

Had she said the _Pritchards_, Elsie would have been in a quandary; as
it was, her face brightened.

"She never knew the Marleys, and there aren't any now," she said. "She
knows only the Pritchards."

"Hooray! I shall harp on the Marleys morning, noon, and night!"

"She'll like you," observe