Frank thought it was no more than proper that he should devote a letter to Miss Effie. He wanted to make it instructive and interesting, and, at the same time, he thought it should appeal to her personally in some way. He debated the matter in his own mind without coming to a conclusion, and finally determined to submit the question to Doctor Bronson, from whom he hoped to receive a suggestion that would be useful. [Illustration: A JAPANESE LADY'S-MAID.] The Doctor listened to him, and was not long in arriving at a conclusion. "You have just written to Mary on the subject of Japanese art," said he, "and she will be pretty certain to show the letter to her intimate friend." "Nothing more likely," Frank answered. "In that case," the Doctor continued, "you want to take up a subject that will be interesting to both, and that has not been touched in your letters thus far." "I suppose so." [Illustration: BRIDE AND BRIDESMAID.] "Well, then, as they are both women, or girls, as you may choose to call them, why don't you take up the subject of women in Japan? They would naturally be interested in what relates to their own sex, and you can give them much information on that topic." The proposal struck Frank as an excellent one, and he at once set about obtaining the necessary information for the preparation of his letter. He had already seen and heard a great deal concerning the women of Japan, and it was not long before he had all the material he wanted for his purpose. His letter was a long one, and we will make some extracts from it, with the permission of Miss Effie, and also that of Mary, who claimed to have an interest in the missive. [Illustration: MERCHANT'S FAMILY.]