Miss Avery was even more demonstrative in her friendliness than usual that night; and as she was so much fatigued that she found it necessary to recline on the sofa, she would have Fidelia bring a low seat and sit beside her, saying she had seen enough of all the rest for one day. Fidelia sat down willingly enough, but she would not give up her hand to be caressed, as Miss Avery desired; she was busy covering a ball for Franky; and in a little she found it necessary to go nearer the light, but not before Miss Avery had whispered a few words in her ear. "What a good woman your sister must be! How lovely she must have been when she was young! Dr Justin Everett thinks her nearly perfect." She had no time to say more. Fidelia rose suddenly, and, without a glance toward her, walked across the room; and Dr Justin, coming in with letters in his hand, alone saw the paleness of her face and the anger in her eyes. Miss Avery rose from the sofa, and in her pretty eager way came forward to claim her letters. "Now, Dr Justin, there must be one at least for me! Do say you have got one for me this time," said she, clasping her hands imploringly. The doctor laid the letters on the table without a word. It was Nellie who distributed them, and the last one was for Fidelia. "Now you will be happy! It is from your sister," said she. There were letters for several of the others; and in the interest of receiving and opening them, Fidelia was allowed to slip out of the room unnoticed, and only returned in time to say good-night. "And it must be `good-bye' too, I am afraid, as I must go home to-morrow morning. Eunice wants me. No; she is not sick, but she wants me. I have told Mrs Austin all about it, and she says I ought to go. Amos has promised to take me to the depot in the morning." "But our trip to the Summit?" "You must stay for that!" "One day can make no difference!" Fidelia was sorry to miss the day's pleasure, but a day would make much difference. The letter had been delayed one day already, and her sister had several reasons for wishing her to come home at once. "But your packing! You will have to be up all night. You must let me help you, Miss Marsh! Now say you will," pleaded Miss Avery with pretty beseeching gestures. Fidelia laughed. "My packing! It is all done already, thank you. You will see the last of me to-night." It was not quite the last to several of the party. The departure was not so early but that all the family were down, and even Miss Avery had a chance to say good-bye again from the window, as Fidelia and Amos drove off. She proposed that they should wait a little, that she might drive with them, but this was not to be thought of. "Dr Justin wanted to drive you down, but I said I had promised," said Amos gravely; "you don't care, do you?" "I should have been very sorry if you had forgotten your promise or broken your word. I would not have cared to trouble Dr Justin Everett."