Perhaps because of Gifford's gentle reproof, she roused herself to say, as he had done, "You are very happy, Lois?"
"Oh, I am, I am!" she cried impulsively, "Oh, Helen, I have something to tell you." A very little sympathy in her cousin's voice brought her eager confidence to her lips. "Oh, Helen, a letter has come!"
"John?" she hardly breathed. For one exquisite moment, which had yet its background that he had not been strong, Helen misunderstood her.
"No, it's only something about me," Lois answered humbly.
"Tell me," Helen said gently. "If anything makes you happy, you know I'll be glad."
Lois twisted her fingers together, with a nervous sort of joy. "I've just heard," she said; "Mrs. Forsythe has just written to me."
"And she is very well?" Helen asked. She had almost forgotten her cousin's grief and anxiety about Mrs. Forsythe. It all seemed so long ago and so unimportant.
"No, no," Lois said, "she says she's very sick; but oh, Helen, Dick Forsythe is engaged to be married!"
Helen looked puzzled. "I don't understand."
"Never mind," Lois cried joyously, "he is, and I am so happy!"