o refrain, but we would
not injure our mother for the world; our dear, dear mother!"

"I am sure of it," said Grandma Rose, smiling kindly upon him. "And now,
Walter, would not you and Rosie like to go over to Fairview and carry
the good news to Eva and Gracie? They are there with the little ones,
and I know would be very glad to hear that your dear mother is over the
worst of her trial."

"I am going over there for Gracie, Elsie, and Ned, to take them home to
Woodburn for a while," said Captain Raymond, "and if you two would like
it, will take you both with me, leave you there, bring you back here, or
carry you on to Woodburn, as you may prefer."

"Thank you, sir," said Rosie. "I will be pleased to go as far as
Fairview with you, but not on to Woodburn at this time: because I do not
feel at all sure that mamma may not be taken worse. So I shall not stay
long away from home."

Walter's reply was to the same effect, and as the captain's carriage and
horses were already at the door, the three were presently on their way
to Fairview.

Grace and Evelyn were rejoiced to see them, and having been in great
anxiety about their dear "Grandma Elsie," felt much relieved by the news
of her which they brought.

The captain was in some haste to return to Woodburn, and Rosie and
Walter, finding they wanted to stay a while with Evelyn and their sister
Elsie's children, decided to walk back to Ion; the distance being none
too great for either their strength or enjoyment.

Home and Sister Lu held strong attractions for Grace, Elsie, and Ned,
and they were full of delight as papa lifted them into the carriage and
took his seat beside them.

"Et Ned sit on oo knee, papa," pleaded the baby, and was at once lifted
to the desired place.

"Papa's dear baby boy," the captain said, smoothing his curls and
smiling down into the pretty blue eyes. "How glad Sister Lulu will be to
see you and Elsie, and Gracie!"

"And we'll be just as glad to see her, papa," said Grace. "I know it's
not very long since we came away from our own dear home and Lu, but it
does seem a long time."

"Isn't Lu tired doing without us, papa?" asked Elsie.

"I think she is," he replied; "at all events I know she will be very
glad to see you. It is nearly dinner-time now," he added, looking at his
watch, "so we will go directly home. But this afternoon I will take you
all for a nice, long drive, then leave you little ones at Ion and take
Lulu home again."

Lu