“Come down on the steps and be comfy,” added Lorna.
“No, I'll read it here,” said Henrietta, and she opened the letter. “Well—there's part I can't read to you—”
“Of course.”
“And then he says, 'I thought of you a hundred times while on my fishing trip. Some day you must learn to cast a fly so we can make some of these trips together. You would be the best of companions. And now, dearest girl, I want to ask you the most important question of all. Do you think you can make your preparations so that we can be married in August?'”
“In August!” cried Gay. “I thought it was going to be impossible before next year, Etta?”
“It is a change in his plans,” said Henrietta. “Shall I read the rest?”
“Do, please,” said Gay, and “Yes, indeed,” said Lorna.
“'I'm asking this, dear,' he goes on,” said Henrietta, “'because I have just had most wonderful news. I'm to be sent to Africa. A big job'—the biggest I ever had. It is wonderful country and I want you to enjoy it with me. It is too far to go without you. So it must be an August wedding because we have to sail in September!'”
“Henrietta! How grand!” Gay cried.
“Isn't it?” Henrietta agreed. “Africa, girls! Just think of it! Am I not the luckiest thing?”