“Especially as we shall not have old Starr’s note to pay. When do you expect the note to be presented?”
“Mr. Ross gave me a week to find the receipt.”
“And the week will be up to-morrow. Well, mother, we will be ready for him when he comes.”
At this moment Andy espied a letter on the mantelpiece. It was inclosed in a yellow envelope, and addressed in an irregular, tremulous handwriting to his mother.
“What letter is that, mother?” he asked.
“I declare, Andy, I forgot to open it! Louis Schick brought it in an hour ago. He saw it at the post office, and knew you were away, so he brought it along.”
“Why didn’t you open it, mother? I thought ladies were always curious.”
“I was mixing bread at the time, and my hands were all over dough, so I asked Louis to put it on the mantelpiece. When I got through with the bread I had forgotten all about the letter. I don’t know when I should have thought of it again if you hadn’t asked about it.”
“You’d better open it, mother. Of course boys are never curious. Still, I should like to know what is in it. It may be money, you know.”
From her work-basket Mrs. Gordon took a pair of scissors, and with them cut open the envelope. She drew out the letter, when, to the amazement of Andy and herself, a bank-note slipped out and fell upon the carpet.