It has done me good to open my heart to you.' Only those lines, signed by Mellicent's initials.

I was rash enough to keep the letter, instead of destroying it.

All might have ended well, nevertheless, if she had only held to her resolution.

But, unluckily, my twenty-first birthday was close at hand; and there was talk of keeping it as a festival in the Community.

I was up with sunrise when the day came; having some farming work to look after, and wanting to get it over in good time.