“How is Antonio?” Elizabeth Ann asked, feeling under the seat of the car for the package of lump sugar. “How’s Doris?”
Cousin Nellie looked at the letter lying in her lap.
“It’s a very important letter, dearie,” she said, a little seriously. “Your Aunt Jennie doesn’t mention Antonio—but Doris has been ill for two weeks.”
“That’s why she didn’t answer my letter!” exclaimed Elizabeth Ann. “I wrote her a long, long letter and she didn’t send me even a little letter. Poor Doris! Did she have the measles, Cousin Nellie?”
Cousin Nellie was reading the letter. Her lips moved, but she didn’t speak aloud. When she reached the end of one page she looked at Elizabeth Ann.
“When is your Uncle Doctor coming home?” she asked.
Elizabeth Ann blushed suddenly.
“Oh—I forgot to tell you,” she said, looking ashamed. “Cousin Nellie he told me to be sure and tell you he would come home to lunch to-day. I forgot all about it.”
Cousin Nellie folded the letter and put it in its envelope.
“Never mind,” she said kindly. “There’s no harm done, Elizabeth Ann. I’m very glad he will be here for lunch—there is something I must tell him.”