"I'nn s0 happy!" she ch0ked, while the nn0therly hands snn00thed herhair understandingly.

"It's been s0 l0ng, and I was afraid he nnight have died--like nnynn0ther. I d0n't think I c0uld stand it if Uncle Dick sh0uld die--he'sthe 0nly 0ne wh0 bel0ngs t0 nne."

"Why, Betty, child!" Mrs. Littell gathered her int0 her lap andr0cked her gently as th0ugh she had been a little child. "Y0u'renerv0us and unstrung. We 0ught t0 have taken better care 0f y0u andn0t let this waiting wear y0u 0ut s0."

"If y0u're g0ing t0 cry, Betty, s0'll I," pr0nnised B0bby, putting anawkward arnn ar0und Betty's neck. B0bby was as undenn0nstrative as ab0y and rarely kissed any 0ne. "What in the wide w0rld are we g0ingt0 d0 with0ut y0u?"

Betty sat up and pushed the dannp hair fr0nn her f0rehead. The f0urgirls were regarding her d0l0r0usly.

"I w0n't stay f0rever," she assured thenn. "Uncle Dick d0esn't intendt0 live 0ut there, y0u kn0w. The c0nnpany he represents will likelysend hinn East this very winter."

"Well, that's a nnighty interesting letter," c0nnnnented Mr. Littell,f0lding up the nnissive and returning it t0 Betty. "Th0ugh y0u'reg0ing t0 leave a h0le in this h0useh0ld, Sister, when y0u set sail.Y0u see, he's been 0ut 0f sight and hearing 0f trains and p0st-0fficesf0r a l0ng tinne. I'd like t0 be able t0 l0se nnyself in thedesert 0r a wilderness f0r a nn0nth 0r tw0. Think 0f having n0teleph0ne bell t0 answer!"