"It's from Ralph,"--
handing it over for her sister to read.
Both the ladies were in somber black; a ribbon or a brooch seemed out of
place to them that day. Tabitha broke the seal of the letter, and
retired to the light of the window to read it.
The papers were spread on the table, and the pen was in Rachel's hand
when a scream from Tabitha shattered the oppressive silence of the room.
"Stop--stop--oh, stop!" she cried, rushing to her sister and snatching
the pen from her fingers. "We don't have to--see--read!"--pointing to
the postscript written in a round, boyish hand.
Oh, I say, I've got a surprise for you. You think I've been fishing and
loafing all summer, but I've been working for the hotels here the whole
time. I've got a fine start on my money for college, and I've got a
chance to work for my board all this year by helping Professor Heaton. I
met him here this summer, and he's the right sort--every time. I've
intended all along to help myself a bit when it came to the college
racket, but I didn't mean to tell you until I knew I could do it. But
it's a sure thing now.
Bye-bye; I'll be home next Saturday.
Your aff. nephew,
Ralph.
Rachel had read this aloud, but her voice ended in a sob instead of in
the boy's name.
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