Rose's cheeks were scarlet flame before she concluded.

She understood it all.

He was bound to her sister; he was trying to be true, but he loved her! Had he not owned it--might she not still hope?
She clasped her hands in sudden, ecstatic rapture.
"He loves me best," she thought; "and the one he loves best will be the one he will choose." She folded up the precious document, and hid it in her pocket.

She looked up at the window, but no more sheets of the unfinished letter fluttered out.
"Careless fellow!" she thought, "to leave such tell-tale letters loose.
If Kate had found it, or Grace, or Eeny! They could not help understanding it.

I wish I dared tell him; but I can't." She turned and went into the house.