Chapter XVIII · THE LETTER.
Reading edition
CHAPTER XVIII. THE LETTER.
A forgotten duty called to mind—Letter writing—A mysterious allusion—The private room—No backing out—Making a beginning—Getting stuck—Idling away time—Prying into letters—A commotion among the swallows—Teaching the young ones how to fly—A good lesson lost—Mary and her book—Her talk about the pictures—A pretty picture—A wasted hour—Making another attempt—His success—Effects of being in earnest—A copy of Oscar's letter—Emily's inquisitiveness—A rebuke—The message she wanted to send—The meadow lot—Mulching for trees—Going to the old wood lot—Cutting birch twigs-Forgetting to be lazy—The load—A ride to the Cross-Roads—Mailing the letter—Paying the postage in advance.