"Not in the least," she replied, calmly. "I have no doubt that he has gone to Chicago, and possibly his business has taken him farther still. I think nothing whatever of not hearing from him. Arthur, with all of his considerateness in other respects, has always been singularly remiss as to letters." "Yes, he has, even before we were married," agreed Mrs. Carroll. "Not hearing from Arthur was never anything to worry about." "And I think with Amy that Arthur Carroll is perfectly well able to take care of himself," said Anna, further, with her slight inflection of sarcasm. "I understood that he was going to Chicago, from something he said to me some time ago," Arms said, thoughtfully. "Of course he has gone there," Anna Carroll said again, with a sharp impatience. And then there was a whirring flash of steel past the window, and the fiercely hitching curve of a boy's back. "It's Jim Leech on his wheel, and he's got a telegram," proclaimed Eddy, and made a dash for the door. There was a little ripple of excitement. Charlotte jumped up and followed Eddy, but he re-entered the room dancing aloof with the telegram. In spite of her efforts to reach it, he succeeded in tearing it open. Charlotte was almost crying and quite pale. "Eddy," she pleaded, "please give it to me--please." "Eddy, bring that telegram here," commanded his aunt, half rising from her seat. "It is only from Arthur, saying he is coming, of course," said Mrs. Carroll, calmly sipping her coffee. "Arthur always telegraphs when he has been away anywhere and is coming home." "Eddy!" said Charlotte. But Eddy essayed reading the telegram with an effect of being in the air, such was his defensive agility. "He's coming, I guess," he said. "I don't think anything very bad has happened. I don't think it's an accident or anything, but the writing is awful. I should think that telegraph man would be ashamed to write like that." "Eddy, bring that telegram to me," said Anna; "bring it at once." And the boy finally obeyed. Anna read the telegram and her nervous forehead relaxed. "It is all right," said she; then she read the message aloud. It was dated New York, the night before: "Am in New York. Shall take the first train home in the morning." "He sent it last night at eight o'clock, and we have only just got it," said Ina. "He is all right," repeated Anna. "Of course he is all right," said Mrs. Carroll. "Why doesn't Marie bring in the eggs? We have all finished the cereal?" "Eggs! Golly!" cried Eddy, slipping into his chair. "Why, it must be time for him now!" Charlotte said, suddenly. Arms looked at his watch. "Yes, it is," he agreed. It was not long before Samson Rawdy drove into the grounds, and everybody sprang up at the sound of the wheels. "There's papa!" cried Eddy, and led the way to the door, slipping out before the others.