"Oh, do let me see the letter," said Elsie.
Elizabeth gave it to her, but between excitement and his usual odd penmanship Tom's epistle was quite a puzzle to unpractised eyes, and Elsie went into shrieks over it.
"He promised to bring me a bracelet," said she, "diamonds it shall be now. If he brings anything less I'll send him straight back."
"But when is he coming?" Mellen asked.
"I can't make out," said Elsie; "here is something at the end about I shall burn—no return—at the—the—can that be Millennium?"
"Scarcely, I should think," said Mellen, laughingly.
"Try and make it out, Bess," said Elsie, giving her the letter.
Elizabeth took it, examined the lines to which she pointed, and after a moment's study read it correctly.
"I shall return by the Hammonia."
"Why that's due now," said Elsie.