Mrs. Cortlandt received the bulk of it, but Beth had two letters for her share when they were distributed. She held up a card with flowers, a cross and a chicken skilfully combined in its design. “From Janie,” she explained. “That’s a card that is sure to sell, Beth,” said Uncle Jim gravely. “It hits everybody on one or another side. There are flowers for the sentimental; a chicken for the humorous; a cross for the religious view of Easter. Perhaps your friend Janie is not sure what tastes you have developed this winter.” “Here’s a letter from Miss Tappan,” said Beth, wondering, and not paying attention to her uncle’s teasing. “She never writes me.” She opened her letter, for her aunt had set the example of looking over the mail at breakfast by opening her own. Beth read hers with the color coming and going in her face and with a variety of expressions chasing one another, though everybody else was so interested in what had come in the mail that no one noticed Beth. Finally Natalie looked up from a note which she held, crying: “Oh, Alys, listen to this! Genevieve Haddon is going to have charades for the Poor Babies’ Fund----Beth, what’s the matter?” “Oh, it’s Aunt Rebecca! I knew she wouldn’t tell!” cried Beth in a distressed voice. “Tell what? She isn’t dead?” exclaimed Natalie. “How could she tell that?” said Alys. “Is she sick, Beth?” “Bad news, dear?” asked Aunt Alida, putting down the letter which she was reading. Uncle Jim, too, folded a large sheet of figures which he was examining and thrust it into his pocket. All eyes turned upon Beth, waiting her explanation. “If I read it that will be the quickest; it isn’t long,” said Beth tremulously. “‘My dear Beth,’” Beth read. “‘I have been thinking of writing you for some time. It is not that I want to, but that I ought to. I do not wish to take other people’s business on my shoulders, but silence gives consent and if I am silent I shall give consent to a wrong. We are told in the Acts that Saul stood by and held the garments of those who stoned Stephen to death and so shared their guilt. Of course I feel that this lesson is for me, because I am a dressmaker, so have to do with garments. Besides, I opened to that chapter when I opened my Bible the other day to get guidance whether to write you or not. So I am writing. “‘Your Aunt Rebecca is not at all well. She is not sick, but it is my opinion that she is pining, and pining is unhealthy, if carried too far. She is lonely, but she would die before saying so. You know it would be exactly like her to die without saying anything about anything which she felt strongly. As long as you prefer the houses of the rich and great to your early home she will bear it as best she can. But she is not a young woman and hot weather is coming. If I were you, Elizabeth, I should feel it my duty to come back and cheer her up. As I said, pining is unhealthy, and it may be a very hot summer, which wears at best.