Lem said nothing. He knew they were teasing. “And listen to this, girls,” Henrietta continued. “'You'll forgive me, Etta dear, for asking you to agree to such an early wedding. I know it is apt to find you unprepared and you must let your crude lover do the unconventional this once. I want you to tell me I can send you a few of my miserable dollars--ten hundred, let us say, so they may be made happy dollars by aiding your preparations.'” Henrietta folded the letter. “What do you think of that, Gay?” she asked. “Should I let him? Would it be right?” “Of course! Why not, under the circumstances?” Gay answered. “When he asked you to go so far and so soon,” said Lorna. “I hoped you would say so,” said Henrietta. “I only wanted your approval. You know what it means to me. It will let me use what I have saved--the money I would never touch--and I can pay you both all I owe you, and what I owe Miss Susan. It makes everything so much easier and happier for me. And of course you'll help me get ready; I'll have so much to do!” “As if we were n't mad to,” said Gay. “You must write him at once, Henrietta; tell him it is all right.” “I 'm going right upstairs to do it this minute,” Henrietta answered, and she went into the house, humming happily. Gay looked at Lorna quizzically. Lorna laughed. “What do you think of it now?” Gay asked in a low tone. “Did you notice? She would not come down to the step to read the letter.” “I did notice. And did you see the ink spot on the back of the envelope? The same spot that was on it when she read the last letter from her 'William' and the one before that?” “Yes, I did notice. “I'm positive it is the same envelope. I believe you are right; I believe she does write the letters to herself. Is n't it _funny?_ Is n't it amazing?” “Or sad or something?” Lorna said. “Gay, what do you think of it, really? What does it mean?” “Did she try to borrow some money from you this morning?” Gay asked. “Yes, twenty-fivedollars,but I did not have it.” “I did have twenty. She got that,” Gay said and giggled. “Then you'll see! She'll get another present from her dear William to-morrow,” Lorna said. “Is n't it just as I said; every time she borrows from us she gets a present from dear William? You'll see. It will be something worth about twenty dollars. Say, Gay--” “Yes?” “You know I said I did not believe her William was really engaged to her at all?” “Yes?” “Well, I don't believe there _is_ any William. I don't believe he exists. I think Henrietta made him up entirely. I believe she invented him.” “Oh, lovely!” Gay cooed. “Is n't she wonderful? But why, Lorna? Why should she?” “That's what I've been wondering. Not just to get money from us, because she uses it to buy the presents she says her William sends. She has no need to buy presents for her William to send. We would believe in her William quite as easily without the presents.” “Is n't it exciting?” Gay cooed again.