For a moment she looked puzzled, then, with a little start, she laid it down by the side of her plate.

She had recognized the handwriting once so familiar to her.
"What is it, mother?
You look quite startled.

Who is it from ?" "It is from no one you know, Ralph.

I think it is from a person I have not heard from for some years.

At any rate it will keep until you are off to school." "It's nothing unpleasant, I hope, mother.