Then came the letter -- and it was a splendid one , too . I had never thought that Anna could write a letter like that , and I was as pleased as Punch about it . The letters kept coming , and I kept on looking for them more and more all the time . I fell in love all over again -- with the writer of those letters . I thought it was Anna , but since you wrote the letters , it must have been with you , Alma . I thought it was because she was growing more womanly that she could write such letters . That was why I came home . I wanted to get acquainted all over again , before she grew beyond me altogether -- I wanted to find the real Anna the letters showed me . I -- I -- did n't expect this . But I do n't care if Anna is married , so long as the girl who wrote those letters is n't . It 's you I love , Alma . '' He bent down and put his arm about her , laying his cheek against hers . The little red spot where his kiss had fallen was now quite drowned out in the colour that rushed over her face . `` If you 'll marry me , Alma , I 'll forgive you , '' he said . A little smile escaped from the duress of Alma 's lips and twitched her dimples . `` I 'm willing to do anything that will win your forgiveness , Gilbert , '' she said meekly . Aunt Caroline 's Silk Dress Patty came in from her walk to the post office with cheeks finely reddened by the crisp air . Carry surveyed her with pleasure . Of late Patty 's cheeks had been entirely too pale to please Carry , and Patty had not had a very good appetite . Once or twice she had even complained of a headache .
So Carry had sent her to the office for a walk that night , although the post office trip was usually Carry 's own special constitutional , always very welcome XXXXX her after a weary day of sewing on other people 's pretty dresses .
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