, not two minutes' walk from this beach, where they
always take summer boarders. In July it wouldn't be pleasant, because it
is crowded; but now it will be empty, and we can have it all to
ourselves. There is a dear, old, retired, sea captain there, too, who
takes people out in such a nice sail-boat. I shall keep Sally and the
baby out on the water all day long. I am afraid you will find it very
dull, Dr. Williams. Do you like the sea? Of course you will stay with us
all the time. I don't mean in the least, that you are to come only once
a day to see Sally, as you do here. You will be our guest, you
understand. I dare say you will do more to cure Sally than all the
sea-air and all the medicine put together. She has had so few people to
love in this world, poor girl, that those she does love are very dear to
her. She is more grateful to you than to anybody else in the world."

"Except you, Miss Gunn," replied the doctor, earnestly. "You have done
for her far more than I ever could. I could show only a personal
sympathy; but you have added to the personal sympathy material aid."

"Yes, yes, I know," said Hetty, absently. She did not wish to hear any
thing said about this. "We can set out to-morrow, if you can be ready,"
she continued. "I shall have Caesar drive the horses over next week. They
can't very well be spared this week. The worst thing is, we have to set
out so early in the morning, and Sally is always so much weaker then.
Could you"--Hetty hesitated, and fairly stammered in her embarrassment.
"Couldn't you come over here to-night and sleep, so as to be here when
she first wakes up? You might do something to help her." Before Hetty
had finished her sentence, her face was crimson. Dr. Eben's was full of
a humorous amusement. Already, in twenty-four hours, had it come to
this, that Hetty was urging that popinjay Dr. Ebenezer Williams, to come
and sleep under her roof? The twinkle in his face showed her plainly
what he was thinking. He began to reply:

"You are very kind, Miss Gunn"--Hetty interrupted him:

"No, I am not at all kind, Dr. Williams; and I see you are laughing at
me, because I've had to speak to you, after all, as if I liked you. But,
of course, you understand that it is all for Sally's sake. If I were to
be ill myself, I should have Dr. Tuthill," said Hetty, in a tone meant
to be very resolute and dignified, but only succeeding in being comical.

The doctor bowed ceremoniously, replying:

"I will