"Ah!" panted Miss Belinda. "Are you _quite_ sure, my dear--are you quite
sure?"

"That's what he says. Listen."

"Got in Saturday. Piper met me. Shares looking up. May be kept here two
months. Will write. Keep up your spirits. MARTIN BASSETT."

"Thank Heaven!" sighed Miss Belinda. "Thank Heaven!"

"Why?" said Octavia.

"Why?" echoed Miss Belinda. "Ah, my dear, if you knew how terrified I
was! I felt sure that something had happened. A _cable_ message, my dear!
I never received a telegram in my life before, and to receive a _cable_
message was really a _shock_."

"Well, I don't see why," said Octavia. "It seems to me it is pretty much
like any other message."

Miss Belinda regarded her timidly.

"Does your papa _often_ send them?" she inquired. "Surely it must be
expensive."

"I don't suppose it's cheap," Octavia replied, "but it saves time and
worry. I should have had to wait twelve days for a letter."

"Very true," said Miss Belinda, "but"--