"Yes. I've got Betsy Eaton washin' the dishes and cleanin' now, and I'll be back again on the rugs later."
"Let us go over, Eliza," said Mrs. Wright. "I want you to see what a beautiful cottage it is."
Eliza looked at her with steady significance. "I'm goin' to be too busy," she said slowly.
Captain James sighed and rose. "Handsome day," he remarked, as he trudged off to dinner.
"To-morrow, then?" asked Mrs. Wright.
"No," responded Eliza firmly, freed of Captain James's presence, "nor the day after that. I ain't double-faced, Mrs. Wright. I can't go in when they ain't there, if I wouldn't when they are there."
Mrs. Wright laughed softly. "My square-toed Eliza," she said, turning into the house. "Oh, I forgot to say there's a letter for you here. Mr. Wright must have left it on the table."
Eliza had stooped over the row of sweet peas coming up thriftily about the house, and she rose slowly and followed her friend indoors, but when she saw the small stubbed writing on the envelope her eyes brightened. Twice before during the winter had it come to cheer her.
"Mr. Sidney!" she said, and sat down to enjoy her letter to the full.
"Dear Eliza," it began.