“Miss Susan called her into the kitchen,” said the other. “I think she will be out in a moment.” Miss Henrietta held up an envelope. “See what I've got?” she said, smiling. “Not another letter from Bill?” “Just that,” said Henrietta. “And the dearest letter! There's a part I want to read to you and Lorna. I don't bore you with my Bill, do I, Gay?” “Bore? What an idea!” “Sometimes I'm afraid I do. If it wasn't that his letters are so intelligent. They don't seem to me like ordinary love-letters. They don't seem to you like the common wishy-washy stuff men write, do they?” “Well, you know I have no experience in love-letters--” “Poor Gay!” said Miss Bates, and laughed. “But I do think I'm fortunate in having a man like Bill choose me, don't you? I do wish he could come East this summer. I wish you and Lorna could meet him. He's so--so different from the men here.” The three, who had become close friends, were school teachers, and that was how two of them happened to be boarding at Miss Redding's, which was an exceptionally pleasant boardinghouse. This was the third year Lorna Percy had boarded with Miss Redding. Miss Bates had a year more to her credit. Gay Loring lived at home, across the street, with her parents. In their quiet, small-town lives the love-letters of Henrietta's William Vane had been important events. William was the first and only man to propose to any one of the three, and although Gay and Lorna had never seen him they had seen his portrait and they had heard a vast amount about him. Henrietta spoke of her William Vane most frankly. She was evidently deeply in love with him. Gay and Lorna were unequivocally glad on Henrietta's account. Of Gay and Lorna it is enough to say here that they were still young and fresh and attractive. Of Henrietta it may be said that she was no longer quite young, but that she was still fresh and attractive. In many ways she was livelier than her two friends, and had as youthful manners. Although she was at least forty, she had never taken to the type of garb that a woman dons when she is willing to advertise the fact that her youth has fled. Nor had Henrietta Bates any great reason to advertise that. She was still vigorous and bright-eyed, not a gray hair was to be seen on her head, and her face was full and her complexion clear and pleasing. When Lorna came from the kitchen, bringing young Lem, she noticed immediately the square envelope held by Henrietta. “What, another?” she exclaimed eagerly. “Henrietta, you are the luckiest girl! What does Billy say this time?” “I'm going to read part of the letter to you,” said Henrietta. “Sit down and be a good girl and listen. Who is the young man? Isn't it Lemuel?” “Yes, mam,” said Lem shyly. “I'm Lem.” “He is going to live here now, too,” said Lorna gayly, “are n't you, Lem?” “Yes, mam.”