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The Bedes liked the house which they had bought three weeks before. It was standing on the hill and was in perfect condition."Now I feel quite happy," said Gwen. "We have been living in the house for 3 weeks and I'm getting more and more proud of it. I think I could live in the house all my future life." James liked their new house very much too. He often sat in the old armchair looking into the fire. These were the happiest minutes in his life. He watched the logs burning in the fire and thought he'd be able to sit like that for a long time.
The Bedes had been in the house for twenty-two days when their first post arrived. The postman brought three large envelopes. There was a letter from Gwen's sister. Gwen hoped she would read it after the postman went away, there were business papers for James in the second envelope, the third envelope was addressed to "Mrs Alison Ray". Gwen wanted to give that letter to the postman, but the latter said that as the address had been written correctly somebody might call on them later. He asked the Bedes to keep the letter for some days. He promised to return at the end of the week and said he would take the letter to the post-office if nobody asked for it.
Gwen left the letter on the hall table but the following morning it disappeared. Gwen decided that James had hidden it and asked if he had not touched the letter. "Who took the letter then? What will/shall we tell the postman when he comes? What does all this mean?" worried Gwen.