" How glad he looked as he spoke.
"Ah!" she answered archly, "I'll not tell you what I have done with them,
lest you grow conceited. But I have a confession to make," and she laughed
lightly. "Will you absolve me beforehand?"
"Yes, if you are penitent, and promise to offend no more. What is it?"
"I see I have aroused your curiosity, I shall not keep you in suspense. I
am corresponding with a young gentleman. Here is a letter from him,
received to-day;" drawing it from her pocket as she spoke, she put it into
his hand.
"I have no wish to examine it," he said gravely, laying it on her lap. "I
can trust you fully, Elsie."
"But I should like you to read it; 'tis from Mr. Mason, my chaplain at
Viamede, and gives a lengthy, and very interesting account of the
Christmas doings there."
"Which I should much prefer to hear from your lips, my little friend."
"Ah, read it, please; read it aloud to me; I shall then enjoy it as much
as I did the first time; and you will learn how truly good and pious Mr.
Mason is, far better than from my telling. Not that he talks of himself,
but you perceive it from what he says of others."
He complied with her request, reading in the undertone in which they had
been talking.
"A very well written and interesting letter," he remarked, as he refolded
and returned it.
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