The Bedes liked the house which they had bought 1 three weeks before. It was standing2 on the hill and was3 in perfect condition."Now I feel4 quite happy," Gwen said5. "We have been living6 in the house for 3 weeks and I get7 more and more proud of it. I think8 I can9 live in the house all my future life." James liked10 their new house very much too. He often sat11 in the old armchair looking12 into the fire. These were13 the happiest minutes in his life. He was watching14 the logs burning15 in the fire and was thinking16 he would be able to17 sit18 like that for a long time.The Bedes had been19 in the house for twenty-two days when their first post arrived20. The postman brought21 three large envelopes. There was22 a letter from Gwen's sister. Gwen hoped23 she would read24 it after the postman went25 away, there were26 business papers for James in the second envelope, the third envelope was addressed27 to "Mrs Alison Ray". Gwen wanted28 to give29 that letter to the postman, but the latter said30 that as the address had been written31 correctly somebody might32 call33 on them later. He asked34 the Bedes to keep35 the letter for some days. He promised36 to return37 at the end of the week and said38 he would take39 the letter to the post-office if nobody asked40 for it.Gwen left41 the letter on the hall table but the following morning it disappeared42. Gwen decided43 that James had hidden44 it and asked if he had not touched45 the letter. "Who has taken46 the letter then? What will we tell47 the postman when he comes48? What all this means49? " worried50 Gwen.
