ility
too far. Could you not get some capable person to assist you
for the day?

"I hope that you have not been very lonesome, and assuring you
that it will afford me the greatest pleasure to be with you
again, I am as ever,

"Your affectionate father,

"William Raymond."

Bee sat still for a long time gazing at the letter. Something about the
tone of it chilled her heart, and she could not but contrast it with
that other letter which also told of his homecoming. How full of love,
and tenderness, and longing, that had been; while this--Oh! would he
never, never care for her? Her eyes filled with a quick rush of tears.

"Am hit bad news, honey?" queried Aunt Fanny anxiously.

"No; no, indeed." Bee dashed away her tears, and tried to speak
cheerfully. "Father is coming home Saturday, and he will bring company
for dinner. There will be four scientific men with him, and he fears
that we shall not be able to manage by ourselves. What do you think?"

"Huh!" snorted the negress scornfully. "I'se cooked for more'n dat many.
Dey's nuffin but mens what ebber elsen dey is. I reckon dey feeds like
udder gem'mens if dey is satanic."

"Scientific, Aunt Fanny," corrected the girl with a quick transition
from melancholy to mirth. "Satanic means--"

"Nebber you min' what hit means, chile. I doesn't want no udder worman
a-trapesin' erbout my kitchen. You heah me? No'm; we'll manage, Miss
Bee. Jes' yer think what ter hab, an' I'll cook hit. We'll git ole
Rachel's Tillie ter wait on de table, an' dat's all de help we'll need.
She's a likely gal!"

"All right, Aunt Fanny. We will try it, and if we find that we are not
going to succeed we will get help. I'll think what to have, and we will
surprise father by giving a nice dinner."

Resolutely putting from her all thought of her father's coldness Bee
bent her whole energy to a study of a tempting menu for the dinner.

"When Aunt Annie was going to have company she always studied to please
them," she mused. "Some way her dinners always just suited the guests.
If I could have this dinner not only nice but distinctive, I should be
pleased. Father is susceptible to the influence of a good dinner. I
guess that all men are even if they are satanic." She laughed at the
recollection of Aunt Fanny's mistake, then concentrated her mind anew
upon the problem. Presently she jumped up, clapping her hands in glee.

"I have it! I have it!" she exclaimed joy