Kitty was at the front door in a flash, greeting a highly embarrassed youth in gray uniform. "Bingo, how do you do? To think of your being postman! How splendid!" "Pleased to see you!" muttered Adolphus Evander Byng, who had never had any benefit of his fine name, but was called Addy Evy for long and Bingo for short, as Tom used to say. "Hope I see you well. Letter for you! Goo'day!" Thus Bingo, hurling himself away from the door, as if he had not been looking forward all day to this moment; as if he had not solemnly promised his Aunt Miny, who "dressmade" as we say in Cyrus, to notice every single thing Kitty Ross had on, coming straight from Paris that way. There was a painful scene that evening at the Byng cottage. Gray dress? Well, what kind of a gray dress? Was it silk, or wool, or melange? Did it do up behind? Was it made D'rectory? Was there gores in the skirt? Here Addy Evy fled to the barn, and his Aunt Miny did think he was real mean; she despised any one who hadn't eyes in his head, be he man or woman: there! Kitty came back with her letter, turning it over, as people do, before opening it. A large square envelope, superscribed in a stiff, official-looking hand. "From Aunt Johanna!" she said. "It is surely her hand. I wonder----" She opened the letter; read it; looked up with a dazed expression at Sarepta, who was lingering by the door with an air of elaborate detachment. "Why, Sarepta! why----" "_Well_," Sarepta's tone was incisive, to say the least. "It has been delayed!" Kitty looked at the envelope. "Missent to 'Cyrene'! I should think so. Why, Sarepta, this was written a week ago! She's coming to-day!" "Who's comin'? Not Johanna Ross?" "Yes!" Kitty rose in agitation and began instinctively straightening everything in the room. "You no need to do _that_!" Sarepta spoke grimly, with looks to match. "I went to school with Johanna Ross. She comin' to-day, you say? How long she goin' to stay?" "She says--I'll read it to you. "MY DEAR KITTY, "I am retiring from business and should like to make you a visit if agreeable. Ask Sarepta to find a young girl to take care of me. Unless otherwise advised, expect me at 2.30 Saturday P. M. "Affectionately yours, "JOHANNA ROSS." "Sarepta, it's two o'clock now! What room shall we put her in? I can't think----" Kitty's voice was trembling, her cheeks flushed. Seeing this, Sarepta assumed her dryest manner and tone. "Put her in the Red Injun room. It's all ready: I cleaned it last week." "Of course!" Kitty's brow lightened. "Clever Sarepta! The Red Indian room will be _just_ the thing. Let's come up and look at it! Of course it's all right, but actually I haven't been in it. Why, I haven't been here two days, Sarepta!" Her voice quivered again, but she mastered it, and hurried upstairs with Sarepta close behind her.