"Indeed, yes; dear lady!"
"Perhaps you will go out with me to-morrow if I stay over night in town?"
"If—oh! if they will let me. But you see, there are a mighty lot of things to do—I'm learning!"
"Good-bye then, dear child."
And that night, on the paper of a quiet little hotel, Matilda wrote a brief note to Lost Hollow. She addressed it to Levi.
I'm going to stay on a spell. I never felt better in my life. It was the thinking that life didn't need me any more, that was running me down. It's awful foolish for old folks to let go of things. By the way, I called at Olive Treadwell's to-day and saw Lans's wife. She's real fascinating and real good looking. Brother, I want you to reconsider about leaving Lans out of your will. He's coming out real strong and blood is blood! Tell Sandy this girl, Cynthia, sends kind regards and is enjoying her stay in Boston better than she expected.
This letter had a marvellous effect upon Levi and Sandy.
"What do you think of that?" Levi exclaimed shaking with laughter. "If that ain't spunk and real grit."
Sandy was looking out of the study window and did not reply.
"That's the old New England spirit. Never say die and all the rest!" Levi chuckled.