“No, indeed, that wouldn’t do,” replied Mrs. Driscoll.  “I’m going to stand there once more.  Perhaps I’ll catch somebody else to prove to you that Lucy isn’t the only one thinking about you.”

Mrs. Driscoll returned quietly to her post, and Alma could see her smiling face through the open door.

Alma had very much wanted to send valentines to a few children, herself; but five cents was all the spending money she could have, and she had bought with it one valentine which had been addressed to Lucy Berry in the school box.  She was glad it had not come back to her to-night.  That would have been hardest of all to bear.

Just as she was thinking this there did come another knock at the door.  The child looked up eagerly, and swiftly again Mrs. Driscoll’s hand flew out, and grasping a garment, pulled gently and firmly.

“Well, well, ma’am!” exclaimed a bass voice, and this time it was the hostess’s turn to give a little cry, followed by a laugh, as a stout, elderly man with chin whiskers came deliberately in.

She retreated.  “Oh, Mr. Knapp, please excuse me!  I thought you were a valentine!”

“Nobody’d have me, ma’am.  Nobody’d have me.  Not a mite o’ use to try to stick a pair o’ Cupid’s wings on these shoulders.  It would take an awful pair to fly me.  Well, come now,” he added, with a broad, approving smile at the laughing mother and child, “I’m right down glad to see you playin’ a game.  I’ve thought, the last few days, you was lookin’ kind o’ peaked and down in the mouth; so, seein’ as we found a letter for you that was somehow overlooked this afternoon, I decided I’d bring it along.  Might be fetchin’ you a fortune, for all I knew.”

Mrs. Driscoll’s smile vanished, and her eyes looked eagerly into the good-humored red face, as Mr. Knapp sought deliberately in his coat pocket and brought forth an envelope, at sight of which Alma’s mother flushed and paled.

“You have a valentine, too!” cried the little girl.

“Yes, it is from father.  Won’t you sit down, Mr. Knapp?”

“No, no, I’ll just run along and let you read your letter in peace.  I know you want to, and I hope it brings good news.  If it don’t, you just remember it’s always darkest before day.  Frank Driscoll’s bound to come out right side up.  He’s a good feller.”

So saying, the kind friend to this couple took his departure, and Mrs.
Driscoll’s eager fingers tore open the envelope.

At the first four words, “It’s all right, Nettie,” she crushed the paper against her happy eyes and then hugged Alma.

It was all right.  Mr. Driscoll had a position at last, and by the time summer should come he was sure they could be together again.

After the letter had been read and re-read, the two washed and put away the supper dishes with light hearts, and the next morning Mrs. Driscoll went off smiling to the factory, leaving a rather excited little girl to finish the morning work and arrange the lunch in the tin pail which was to be opened beside Miss Joslyn’s desk.