I will send the letter care of you. Thank the boys
for use of their canoe.
BRENTANO."
For some moments Cora sat looking blankly at that fine foreign
paper. What a splendid hand! What direct diction!
And her conduct had influenced him to turn away from his evil ways.
She had done nothing more than others, except perhaps she had more
courage, born of better and more complete experience. She sighed a
sigh of satisfaction as she again hid the paper in her gown. Then
with one great heart-beat of prayerful thanksgiving, she, too,
sought "tired nature's sweet restorer."
It was the sound of dishes and the tinkle of pans that awoke Cora
next morning. Day so soon! And all the others up!
"Now, we have fooled you," said Belle with a light laugh. "You have
slept longest!"
Cora had been dreaming very heavily, and her sleep seemed but a
reflection of the previous day's troubles. Now she was awake and
instantly she remembered it all about Ben telling her not to go near
the landing; then about the letter.
"Is Laurel up?" she asked.
"No, we let her sleep to keep you company," said Hazel, "and we are
going to give you such a surprise for breakfast! Don't tell,
girls."
Cora slipped into a robe and stepped across the room to peer into
the little corner where Laurel had gone to her rest.
"Laurel is up," she declared. "She is not here!"
"Not there! Not in bed! Laurel--she has not gotten up yet,"
declared Belle, who with frying pan in hand had hurried from the
kitchen when Cora spoke.
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