Up to her own little room she went, sat down, and held the letter a moment or two before opening it, but, when she finally did, out fell a check which she hurriedly scanned. Down went the letter on the floor. “Oh! Oh! Oh!” she exclaimed. “It is too good to be true. It may be only filthy lucre, but, oh, how glad I am to get it! Say what you will, Mr. Todd, there are moments in life when there is nothing like a check to satisfy one’s cravings.” She held out the check before her and gazed at it fondly. “I could kiss you, but I will only press you to my heart,” which she proceeded to do. “Now, let’s see what that nice boy has to say.” She picked up the letter, which read: “Dear Cronette: “You must think me a beast for not answering your note sooner, but the fact of the matter is that I am laid up with a mean attack of grippe, and, lest my temperature should be too seriously affected by a note from you, Uncle Pete didn’t hand it over till this morning. “Of course I want the dear fiddle, want it like the mischief, but I feel like a thief to take it from you. However, if it helps you out of a hole to cash the within meagre check, I send it along; and if the time comes when you want to buy it back, the fiddle, I mean, you must feel free to do it. By that time it may be a little shop-worn, so you should beat me down in the price. Remember that I am not paying what it is worth, but perhaps you will consider that my deep appreciation is worth something. “I wish I could come for it myself, but, ‘Nay, nay, Pauline,’ says the doctor. If you have a chance to send it by some reliable messenger please do so, for it is too precious to be sent by any ordinary means. If no such trustworthy person appears on the horizon, just wait till I can come for it or can send some one. “It was bad luck not to have a chance of seeing you again, but I shall do it yet. Somehow I feel it in my bones, honey chile, dat we is gwine be de bes’ ob fren’s. “Yo’ expectation fren’ an’ pal, “Cronine.” “What a nice, nice boy,” murmured Ellen as she folded the letter and put it back in the envelope; but almost immediately she took it out and read it all over again. Then she sat in deep thought for a while, but suddenly she jumped up, gathered together her letter and check, and ran in next door to show them to Mr. Todd. CHAPTER XII A DULL WINTER In answer to Ellen’s ring Jeremy himself appeared from the kitchen where he was wiping dishes. Ellen fluttered her check before his eyes. “It’s come! It’s come!” she cried. “A hundred and fifty dollars, dear man. Isn’t it perfectly wonderful?” “No more than it should be, not as much, in fact, but I’m heartily glad. I had a notion you’d get a letter to-day, for I’ve just received one from Peter Barstow.”