It was from Deborah Kendrick to her friend Penelope Pennington. After polite greetings and general courtesies, Deborah told briefly of the wedding, and even more briefly of her daughter’s coming home after it. She used the expressions “much perturbation of spirit” and “we none of us know what may happen next,” and then she issued an invitation that was more in the form of an appeal: Would Penelope and her nieces consider coming to Beulah Land to visit, as soon and for as long a time as they might be able to spare? She thought, Deborah wrote, she hoped that the company of the young Misses Pennington might encourage Selma to throw off her despondency which hung like a cloud over the heads of all in the house. She, Deborah, would be much and forever obliged if her old friend found it in her heart to accede to her request.

The letter immediately eased the tension in the household. Trouble loves trouble, and Penelope admitted that hers was, all things considered, less severe and pressing than Deborah’s.

There were other advantages to be gained if they accepted the invitation than a no doubt pleasant residence in country air during several weeks of summer heat. There would be a certain saving of money of which Penelope was not insensible. Her household expenses would go on with the servants left behind, but Uncle Joshua would see that all was done economically. There was—of course—the advantage of obliging her friend. There was the advantage of avoiding gossip in their Savannah circle, simply by being absent. When there is an absence of the principals and little or no information about them, speculations are likely to be so many and varied as to cancel each other’s credibility.

And there was the chance, however slight it seemed when she remembered the particular geniality that had existed between Lauretta and Leon, with Sarah pretty much left out of it—still, there was the chance of—let it be called “friendship” developing between her niece Sarah and one or both of the Kendrick children.

It was not too much to hope. In a hopeless time, nothing is.

Only minutes were required for Penelope’s mind to receive and digest the contents of the letter and to jump ahead to speculation on the future. She discussed the letter with Sarah, and in less detail and confidence with Uncle Joshua and Clarice. They all agreed that a visit to Beulah Land at this time was a desirable thing. Uncle Joshua promised to be vigilant to receive and pass on any word, letter, message, or even serious rumor that came to them at home. Judge Truebody was consulted, and it was decided that as soon as they left Savannah, he would issue a simple announcement of Lauretta’s marriage.