The girls seated themselves together on a rustic bench, tore open the
thick letter, and acquainted themselves with its contents.


"Dearest,--I'm coming home to-morrow night. _Must_ see the mater.
Have got into a fresh scrape. Don't tell anyone but May--I mean about
the scrape.

"Your devoted brother,

"LOFTUS."


Catherine read this letter twice, once to herself, then aloud for
Mabel's benefit.

"Now, what's up?" exclaimed Mabel. "It must be very bad. He never calls
you 'dearest;' unless it's awfully bad. Does he, Kitty?"

"No," said Catherine. "Poor mother," she added then, and she gave a
profound and most ungirlish sigh.

"Why, Catherine, you have been grumbling at mother all day! You have
been feeling so cross about her."

"You never will understand, Mabel! I grumble at mother for her
frettiness, but I love her, I pity her for her sorrows."

Mabel looked full into her sister's face.