Tess closed the door and put up the bar. Andy was eyeing her from the ceiling.
"What ye got, kid?" he whispered.
Tess held up the letters.
"Two of 'em, an' this one air from Mr. Young. Shall I read it to ye, Andy?" she asked, looking up.
The little man chuckled with joy.
"I'd like to hear it," said he.
Tess drew a chair under the boyish face peering upon her, and sat down.
"Dear Tessibel," she read.
"I hoped to be home this week, but find my work won't be finished. Please keep at your books and study hard. Get the doctor any time you need him for your father. I know you're trying to be a brave little girl, and may God bless you. Affectionately, Deforrest Young."
Tessibel choked on the last word.
"It air awful hard to be brave, Andy," she faltered, brushing away a tear.
The dwarf made a dash at his own eyes.
"Ye got another letter," he cut in irrelevantly.
"Yep," said Tess.
After pulling forth the second sheet, she spread it out and read it through without looking up.
"Miss Tessibel Skinner: "It is necessary for you to attend a church meeting next Wednesday afternoon at three o'clock in the chapel. Please oblige, "SILANDER GRIGGS, Pastor."
"Anything much?" demanded the dwarf, interestedly.
"Nope, Andy, only a note askin' me to come to church tomorrow afternoon, but I jest can't go, Andy!... I can't! I ain't been fer two Sundays, now, 'cause I been feelin' so bad."
She raised her eyes full of misery to meet Andy's sympathetic gaze. How could she go after that awful scene nearly three weeks before with Madelene and Frederick? She never could face the Waldstricker family again.
"I won't never go to church, ever any more," she mourned presently.
"Mebbe not, dear," returned the dwarf, smothered in his throat. "An' the church'll be worser off'n you!"
Troubled in spirit, Tess considered the letter a few minutes.
"I s'pose they be gittin' up somethin' fer Christmas, an' I ought to go an' tell 'em I can't sing. I said as how I would over three months ago if Miss Waldstricker'd help me; but I can't.... Will ye look after Daddy while I air gone, Andy?"
"Sure," agreed the dwarf. "I'll slide under his bed an' talk the pains right out o' 'im."
"I wish the meetin' was in the mornin'," Tess sighed. "It gits dark so early, an' Mr. Young ain't home! He'd come an' git me an' bring me back if he were. It air a long walk," and she sighed again.
"Mebbe 'twon't be so cold tomorrow as it air today," cheered Andy and they lapsed into silence.