"My dear Niece," she read, adding: "I want you to _know_, Anne, that she honors you by spelling that with a capital." "Of later years it has been a matter of deep regret to me that though the same blood runs in our veins we are like strangers, and that you have been allowed to grow to womanhood without knowing the home of your forefathers on this historic island. It is for that reason that now, after considerable debate with my conscience, I am writing to you at your college address which I have obtained through a chance article in an Albany newspaper ('that was the Senior Play write-up,' interrupted Nancy, excitedly) to urge you to avail yourself of the earliest opportunity to visit me in the old home. "I feel the burden and responsibility of my increasing years, and I know that soon I will be called to that land where our forefathers have gone before us. You are, I believe, my nearest of kin--the family, as you must know, is dying out and I would have preferred that you had been a boy--I will tell you frankly that I am considering changing my will and that upon your visit depends whether or not you will be my beneficiary. I would wish to leave the home and my worldly wealth--the wealth of the past Leavitts, to a Leavitt, but before I can do so to the satisfaction of my own conscience, I must know that you are a Leavitt and that you have been brought up with a true knowledge and respect for what being a Leavitt demands of you, "I await your reply with anxiety. Your visit will give me pleasure and I assure you that you will learn to love the spot on which, for so many generations, your ancestors have lived." "Your Loving Aunt, "SABRINA LEAVITT." "Well, I'll be----" In all her college vocabulary Anne could not find the word to express her feelings. "Isn't that rapturous? A great-aunt and a fortune! And will you _please_ tell me why she had to debate with her conscience?" cried Claire. Nancy was gleeful over Anne's wrath. "I'm glad she's yours, Annie darling! Dad always said the whole world was _my_ only kin, but I never ran against anyone who wanted to look me over before she left me a fortune! Who ever heard of North Hero Island and where in goodness is it?" "I remember, now, that her name was awfully queer--Aunt Sa-something or other, and North Hero Island isn't _utterly_ unknown, Nancy, to the can't even remember! I wish it had happened to Lake Champlain. I saw it once on a road-map when I was touring last fall with Professor and Mrs. Scott, and Professor Scott said it was a locality picturesquely historic--I remember." Claire turned the letter over and over. "I think it's all awfully thrilling! An aunt you can't even remember! I wish it had happened to me! It would be something so different. It's just like a story. But what a _lot_ she does think of her forefathers!"