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ast I am settled。 No one ever looked forward to spinsterhood more thankfully than I。
Our fire； I have come to believe； was providential。 It was sent from heaven to clear the way for a new John Grier。 We are already deep in plans for cottages。 I favor gray stucco； Betsy leans to brick； and Percy； half…timber。 I don't know what our poor doctor would prefer； olive green with a mansard roof appears to be his taste。
With ten different kitchens to practice in； won't our children learn how to cook！ I am already looking about for ten loving house mothers to put in charge。 I think； in fact； I'll search for eleven； in order to have one for Sandy。 He's as pathetically in need of a little mothering as any； of the chicks。
It must be pretty dispiriting to come home every night to the ministrations of Mrs。 McGur…rk。
How I do not like that woman！ She has with complacent firmness told me four different times that the dochther was ashleep and not wantin' to be disturbed。 I haven't set eyes on him yet； and I have just about finished being polite。 However； I waive judgment until tomorrow at four； when I am to pay a short； unexciting call of half an hour。 He made the appointment himself； and if she tells me again that he is ashleep； I shall give her a gentle push and tip her over （she's very fat and unstable） and； planting a foot firmly on her stomach； pursue my way tranquilly in and up。 Luellen； formerly chauffeur； chambermaid； and gardener； is now also trained nurse。 I am eager to see how he looks in a white cap and apron。
The mail has just come； with a letter from Mrs。 Bretland； telling how happy they are to have the children。 She inclosed their first photographall packed in a governess cart； with Clifford proudly holding the reins； and a groom at the pony's head。 How is that for three late inmates of the John Grier Home？
It's all very inspiring when I think of their futures； but a trifle sad when I remember their poor father； and how he worked himself to death for those three chicks who are going to forget him。 The Bretlands will do their best to accomplish that。 They are jealous of any outside influence and want to make the babies wholly theirs。 After all； I think the natural way is bestfor each family to produce its own children； and keep them。
Friday。
I saw the doctor today。 He's a pathetic sight； consisting mostly of bandages。 Somehow or other we got our misunderstandings all made up。 Isn't it dreadful the way two human beings； both endowed with fair powers of speech； can manage to convey nothing of their psychological processes to each other？
I haven't understood his mental attitude from the first； and he even yet doesn't understand mine。 This grim reticence that we Northern people struggle so hard to maintain！ I don't know after all but that the excitable Southern safety valve method is the best。
But； Judy； such a dreadful thingdo you remember last year when he visited that psychopathic institution； and stayed ten days； and I made such a silly fuss about it？ Oh； my dear； the impossible things I do！ He went to attend his wife's funeral。 She died there in the institution。 Mrs。 McGurk knew it all the time； and might have added it to the rest of her news； but she didn't。
He told me all about her； very sweetly。 The poor man for years and years has undergone a terrible strain； and I fancy her death is a blessed relief。 He confesses that he knew at the time of his marriage that he ought not to marry her； he knew all about her nervous instability； but he thought； being a doctor； that he could overcome it； and she was beautiful！ He gave up his city practice and came to the country on her account。 And then after the little girl's birth she went all to pieces； and he had to 〃put her away；〃 to use Mrs。 McGurk's phrase。 The child is six now； a sweet； lovely little thing to look at； but； I judge from what he said； quite abnormal。 He has a trained nurse with her always。 Just think of all that tragedy looming over our poor patient good doctor； for he is patient； despite being the most impatient man that ever lived！
Thank Jervis for his letter。 He's a dear man； and I'm glad to see him getting his deserts。 What fun we are going to have when you get back to Shadywell； and we lay our plans for a new John Grier！ I feel as though I had spent this past year learning； and am now just ready to begin。 We'll turn this into the nicest orphan asylum that ever lived。 I'm so absurdly happy at the prospect that I start in the morning with a spring； and go about my various businesses singing inside。
The John Grier Home sends its blessing to the two best friends it ever had！
ADDIO！
SALLIE。
THE JOHN GRIER HOME；
Saturday at half…past six in the morning！
My dearest Enemy：
〃Some day soon something nice is going to happen。〃
Weren't you surprised when you woke up this morning and remembered the truth？ I was！ I couldn't think for about two minutes what made me so happy。
It's not light yet； but I'm wide awake and excited and having to write to you。 I shall despatch this note by the first to…be… trusted little orphan who appears； and it will go up on your breakfast tray along with your oatmeal。
I shall follow VERY PROMPTLY at four o'clock this afternoon。 Do you think Mrs。 McGurk will ever countenance the scandal if I stay two hours； and no orphan for a chaperon？
It was in all good faith； Sandy； that I promised not to kiss your hand or drip tears on the counterpane； but I'm afraid I did bothor worse！ Positively； I didn't suspect how much I cared for you till I crossed the threshold and saw you propped up against the pillows； all covered with bandages； and your hair singed off。 You are a sight！ If I love you now； when fully one third of you is plaster of Paris and surgical dressing； you can imagine how I'm going to love you when it's all you！
But my dear； dear Robin； what a foolish man you are！ How should I ever have dreamed all those months that you were caring for me when you acted so abominably S C O T C H？ With most men； behavior like yours would not be considered a mark of affection。 I wish you had just given me a glimmering of an idea of the truth； and maybe you would have saved us both a few heartaches。
But we mustn't be looking back； we must look forward and be grateful。 The two happiest things in life are going to be ours； a FRIENDLY marriage and work that we love。
Yesterday； after leaving you； I walked back to the asylum sort of dazed。 I wanted to get by myself and THINK； but instead of being by myself； I had to have Betsy and Percy and Mrs。 Livermore for dinner （already invited） and then go down and talk to the children。 Friday night…social evening。 They had a lot of new records for the victrola； given by Mrs。 Livermore； and I had to sit politely and listen to them。 And； my dearyou'll think this funnythe last thing they played was 〃John Anderson； my jo John；〃 and suddenly I found myself crying！ I had to snatch up the earnest orphan and hug her hard