Alicia's letter was mailed next morning and to her surprise a reply arrived about noon, brought by a messenger. It said:
My dear Miss Steele:
Your welcome invitation is here. I cannot accept for to-morrow as I have an important engagement then, but I will do myself the pleasure of calling upon you TO-DAY at four o'clock, and trust I may find you at home.
Sincerely yours,
BAYNE CORIELL.
"Oh, isn't it wonderful!" sighed Alicia. "A letter from HIM! Oh, girls,
I'm so happy! How CAN I wait for four o'clock!"
She ran away to tell Mrs. Berry of the letter.
"Very well," said the kind-hearted woman, "it's just as well to have him come to-day. Suppose we have tea in the small reception room, it's cosier than the drawing-room."
"All right," said Alicia. "Will Uncle Jeff come down, do you think?"
"I doubt it. However, I'll tell him you expect Mr. Coriell, and he can do as he likes." Mrs. Berry had a peculiar twinkle in her eye, and Alicia noted it, and wondered what it meant. The whole affair seemed mysterious, for she had not supposed Mrs. Berry would be so ready to receive this strange young man.
"You think it's all right for us to receive him, don't you, Mrs. Berry?" she asked, for she began to fear lest she had been too unconventional.