"Intolerable old man," she muttered, aloud: "Take the letters from him,
Catherine, and bring them here."

Then raising her voice to a thin scream, she continued:

"I shall write to the general post-office on this subject; it is quite
intolerable that in any part of England Her Majesty's Post should be
entrusted to incapable hands."

Old Benjafield, fumbling in his bag, produced two letters which he
presented to Catherine. He did so with a dubious, inquiring glance at
her mother, again informed the company generally that he was hard of
hearing, and hobbled away.

One of the letters, addressed in a manly and dashing hand, was for
Catherine. The other, also in manly but decidedly cramped writing, was
addressed to Mrs. Bertram.

She started when she saw the handwriting, instantly forgot old
Benjafield, and disappeared into the house.

When she was gone Mabel danced up to her sister's side, and looked over
her shoulder at the thick envelope addressed in the manly hand.

"Kate, it's from Loftie!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, it's from Loftie," responded Catherine. "Let us come and sit under
the elm-tree and read what he says, May."