"Now we can sit around the fire after dinner and tell stories," she said, putting away her papers in an old checker-board.
Their cousin, like their aunt, was generally willing to do what the children wished, so they made a sociable group in the library after dinner.
"Let's play something first," suggested Miss Hazeltine, taking possession of the sleepy-hollow chair.
"'I Have a Thought,'" Aunt Zélie proposed; "little Helen likes that."
"I have a thought that rhymes with deep," announced Carl.
"Is it what Cousin Helen will do if she sits in that chair?" asked Bess.
"Thank you, miss, I am not such a sleepy-head as you think," said her cousin, with pretended indignation.
It was not till some one had a thought rhyming with "better" that Louise was reminded of the letters the postman left.
"There are two, Auntie," she said, bringing them; "one is from Father."
"Yes, just a note to say he will be at home to-morrow at three. I don't know this writing," opening the other.