"Auntie Strong, do you know anything about this?" demanded Alix suspiciously. The colour was flowing back into her cheeks. "Have you been keeping something--" "--and I will entertain this young gentleman during your absence," went on the other serenely,--but there was a flush in her cheeks and her eyes were very bright and happy. "You go and read your letter and,--did you say there was to be an answer, boy?" "Yes'm." "And write your answer," concluded Mrs. Strong. "Come along, my lad, and have a nice hot cup of coffee and some toast. I hope you take sugar. There are two lumps in it already." Alix fairly ran from the room. They heard her racing up the stairs. "Will you have cream, my boy?" asked Mrs. Strong, steadying her voice with an effort. He had shuffled along behind her to the fireplace. "Yes'm," and then as an afterthought: "if you please, ma'am." He looked up and saw that his hostess's eyes were swimming in tears. "I--I hope it ain't bad news," he stammered uncomfortably. "Don't you know there are such things as tears of joy?" inquired the lady. He looked very doubtful. "No ma'am," he solemnly confessed. The tears he knew about were not joyous. "Wasn't it just like David to hire an automobile to send you out here to deliver the letter to her? I suppose it must have cost him a pretty penny. Most men would have put a two cent stamp on it. But my son is not like other men. He is always doing the most unexpected things,--and the very nicest things. Now, who else in the world would have thought of hiring an automobile to send a message by?" "Is he your son, ma'am?" "Yes. My son David. Did you see him?" "Sure I did." "How was he looking?" "Fine," said the lad. "Gee, but he's tall." "Six feet three, my boy," said David's mother. "That's very hot. Be careful not to scald your mouth. Shall I put in another lump,--or two?" "Will it cool it off any?" "I am sure it will." Meanwhile, Alix was greedily devouring the contents of the letter. She stood beside the light over her dressing-table; her heart was pounding furiously, her eyes were radiantly bright. DEAR ALIX: