A young man and friend of Mr. Travers had arrived at the house the night before, Nixon said, and I began to think we might have some gay times with four city people in close proximity to each other. Mrs. Parks had taken possession of the flowers, and after giving me what she thought I ought to have, she put the larger proportion of the remainder in Irene’s room, saying it was quite proper for her to have the most from the greenhouse which would probably be hers. A few roses and lilies were accorded to Rena and put in a large tumbler which Mrs. Parks said had been used by her grandfather to mix toddy in when the minister called. I was not satisfied with the allotment to Rena, for whom my sympathy kept growing; and reserving for myself a single half-opened rose and one or two lilies, I took the rest to her room, putting them wherever I could find a place and in whatever I could find to put them. This done, the rooms were ready, and we waited with what patience we could for the train which was to bring the Burdicks. At half-past three we saw the McPherson carriage go by with Nixon. Half an hour later we heard the whistle of the train in the distance, and fifteen minutes later the McPherson carriage stopped at the gate, and while Lottie and I looked cautiously from my window, Mrs. Parks, in a flutter of pleasure and pride, went down the walk to meet the occupants of the carriage. The Burdicks had come. CHAPTER III RENA’S LETTER TO TOM GILES (With remarks by Tom, as he read it) “New York, June 10, 18—. “Dear Old Tom: “It is an age since I have heard from you. Don’t you know we have been home from Europe six weeks, and you haven’t been to see us. What kind of a cousin is that, I’d like to know? Are you so busy in your office, earning your bread, as you said you were when I tried to have you come over to Paris and meet us? Well, by and by I may be in a position to give you your daily bread, as you did me when I was a poor little waif stranded at your mother’s door before Uncle Reuben left me some money and Aunt Mary took me up. “I have a tremendous matrimonial speculation on hand, with thousands and thousands of dollars in it.” (“The devil you have!” was Tom’s exclamation, as he wiped his wet face, for the morning was hot and Rena’s letter made him hotter. Then he read on:)