The old lady was full of the praises of her new maid, and Betsey Ann smiled from ear to ear with delight.
'Are you happy, Betsey Ann?' whispered Rosalie, as May was talking to
Mother Manikin.
'Happy?' exclaimed Betsey Ann; 'I should just think I am! I never saw such a good little thing as she is. Why, I've been here a whole week, and never had a cross word, I declare I haven't; did you ever hear the like of that?'
'Oh, I am so glad you are happy!' said Rosalie.
'Yes, He—I mean the Good Shepherd—has been good to me,' said Betsey Ann. 'But wait a minute, Rosalie,' she said, as she saw that Rosalie was preparing to go. 'I've got a letter for you.'
'A letter for me?' exclaimed Rosalie. 'Who can it be from?'
'I don't know,' said Betsey Ann. 'It came the day after you left, and I kept it, in hope of being able to send it some day or other. I just happened to be cleaning the doorstep when the postman brought it. Says he, "Does Miss Rosalie Joyce live here?" So I says, "All right, sir; give it to me;" and I caught it up quite quick, and I poked it in my pocket. I wasn't going to let her get it. I'll get it for you if you'll wait a minute.'
When Betsey Ann came downstairs, she put the letter in Rosalie's hand. It was very bad and irregular writing, and Rosalie could not in the least imagine from whom it had come.
The letter began thus—
'My dear Miss,