without, and knocked at the door. I had to rap a second time before Molly
Wemple appeared to let me in.

"We were all up-stairs," she said, wiping her hot and dusty brow with her
apron, "hard at it! I'll send her down to you. She needs a little
breathing-spell."

The girl was gone before I could ask what extra necessity for labor had
fallen upon the household this sultry summer afternoon.

Daisy came hurriedly to me, a moment later, and took both my hands in
hers. She also bore signs of work and weariness.

"Oh, I am _so_ glad you are come!" she said, eagerly. "Twice I have sent
Tulp for you across to your mother's. It seemed as if you never
would come."

"Why, what is it, my girl? Is it about the letter from--from----"

"You know, then!"

"Only that a letter came to you yesterday from him. The messenger--he is
an old friend of ours--told me that much, nothing more."

Daisy turned at this and took a chair, motioning me to another. The
pleased excitement at my arrival--apparently so much desired--was
succeeded all at once by visible embarrassment.

"Now that you are here, I scarcely know why I wanted you, or--or how to
tell you what it is," she said, speaking slowly. "I was full of the idea