"What on earth can she have to say, when she hates writing so,"
Susy mused.

She broke open the envelope, and four or five stamped and sealed
letters fell from it. All were addressed, in Ellie's hand, to
Nelson Vanderlyn Esqre; and in the corner of each was faintly
pencilled a number and a date: one, two, three, four--with a
week's interval between the dates.

"Goodness--" gasped Susy, understanding.

She had dropped into an armchair near the table, and for a long
time she sat staring at the numbered letters. A sheet of paper
covered with Ellie's writing had fluttered out among them, but
she let it lie; she knew so well what it would say! She knew
all about her friend, of course; except poor old Nelson, who
didn't, But she had never imagined that Ellie would dare to use
her in this way. It was unbelievable ... she had never pictured
anything so vile .... The blood rushed to her face, and she
sprang up angrily, half minded to tear the letters in bits and
throw them all into the fire.

She heard her husband's knock on the door between their rooms,
and swept the dangerous packet under the blotting-book.

"Oh, go away, please, there's a dear," she called out; "I
haven't finished unpacking, and everything's in such a mess."
Gathering up Nick's papers and letters, she ran across the room
and thrust them through the door. "Here's something to keep you