The reading of one cheers me up for the day . Cyrilla Blair , what is the matter ? You nearly frightened me to death ! '' Cyrilla had bounded from her bed to the centre of the floor , waving her Greek grammar wildly in the air . `` Girls , I have an inspiration ! '' she exclaimed . `` Good ! Let 's hear it , '' said Carol . `` Let 's write letters -- rainy-day letters -- to everyone in the house , '' said Cyrilla . `` You may depend all the rest of the folks under Mrs. Plunkett 's hospitable roof are feeling more or less blue and lonely too , as well as ourselves . Let 's write them the jolliest , nicest letters we can compose and get Nora Jane to take them to their rooms . There 's that pale little sewing girl , I do n't believe she ever gets letters from anybody , and Miss Marshall , I 'm sure she does n't , and poor old Mrs. Johnson , whose only son died last month , and the new music teacher who came yesterday , a letter of welcome to her -- and old Mr. Grant , yes , and Mrs. Plunkett too , thanking her for all her kindness to us . You knew she has been awfully nice to us in spite of the oil stove ukase . That 's six -- two apiece . Let 's do it , girls . '' Cyrilla 's sudden enthusiasm for her plan infected the others . `` It 's a nice idea , '' said Mary , brightening up . `` But who 's to write to whom ? I 'm willing to take anybody but Miss Marshall . I could n't write a line to her to save my life .
She 'd be horrified at anything funny or jokey and our letters will have to be mainly nonsense -- nonsense XXXXX the best brand , to be sure , but still nonsense . ''
Marshall as centre for from in of to ukase under