"I should say she has. Everybody over there is galvanized with all this excitement. Mrs. Lindsay says Luella nearly went out of her mind at first with two men impending, and she told Mrs. Lindsay she couldn't do so much cooking: that she'd have to get a 'chief' from Portland; but I tell you, Mrs. Lindsay is a general. She promised Miss Benslow to help her. She exiled Pa to his boathouse and hired Letty Martin to wash dishes,--that's Blanche Aurora's sister,--and Luella, from being desperate, is now on the top of the wave. That nice Whitcomb--excuse me,"--the speaker gave the ankle a little shake,--"I mean that strong, good-natured Freddy has kissed the blarney stone, probably. At any rate, Luella is his bond slave already." "What relation are the Lindsays to him?" "Mrs. Lindsay told me. She and Fred's father are own cousins." "That's not too near," said Linda dismally. "No, but don't order any wedding presents yet, though I assure you Madge looked very fetching this afternoon in a rose corduroy gown and hat." "Oh, I shan't do anything pleasant yet," responded Linda. "Mrs. Porter, I don't see how you can keep me in suspense. Didn't Bertram speak of me at all?" "I--I don't think so." "Don't think so! Wouldn't you be certain if he had?" "I'm sure he didn't, then." "You know all you've said to me about our being punished for everything wrong we do." "Yes." "How long--how long do you think my punishment will last?" asked Linda naïvely. "What does it consist in? What do you mean?" "Bertram's not forgiving me. I have that awful feeling that Bertram never will forgive me--never can like me again, when--when"--the nervous excitement in the low voice increased--"he's the most important person in the world to me: the one Father loved best and who has helped him most. Think what I've done! Put myself beyond the pale of his liking: his forgiveness." A dry sob shook the speaker. "And Fred hasn't told him about the letters. He doesn't dream yet that we know the truth; and Fred says I mustn't tell him: that he mustn't be excited." "Hush, Linda. Think, dear. You know enough truth to steer by now. 'Cast thy burden on the Lord, and He will sustain thee.' All your part is to think right and do right to-day. You don't want to escape punishment, do you?" "Yes, I do. I've been punished enough, just in the last few hours. I want Bertram to know I suffer and to forgive me, and to accept my appreciation of all he has done."