r
in which sat and reclined the patient.

"Very much better, thank you, sir; so much that I feel quite able to go
out with my friends, if I may."

"Certainly, my child, if you like."

"I hope I have not detained you from your friends," said Rose.

"No. I left the dean in conversation with an English patient from his
old parish. It was an accidental meeting, but a most interesting one."

"Does--the dean--contemplate a long stay in the city?" Rose forced
herself to ask.

"Oh, no; he leaves to-night by one of the Sound steamers for Boston and
Newport. His English temperament feels the heat of the city even more
than we do."

Rose felt it in her heart to wish that the climate might "burn as an
oven," if it should drive the British dean away.

"But I must not leave my visitors longer. So if you will excuse me,
sir," he said, turning to Mr. Rockharrt, "I will take leave of my
patient and her friends here."

He shook hands all around, receiving the warm thanks of the whole party.

When the venerable doctor left the room, Mr. Rockharrt withdrew to the
corridor to give the nurse an opportunity to dress the convalescent for
her journey.

He walked up and down the corridor for a few minutes, at the end of
which Rose Stillwater came out dressed for her drive, and leaning on the
arm of Cora Rothsay.

Mr. Rockharrt hastened to meet her, and took her off Cora's hands, and
drew her arm within his own.

So they went down stairs and entered the carriage that was waiting for
them.

A drive of fifteen minutes brought them to the Blank House.

"Grandfather," said Cora, as they alighted and went into the house, Rose
leaning on Mr. Rockharrt's arm--"Grandfather, I think, now that the rush
of travelers have passed northward, you may be able to get me another
room. In Mrs. Stillwater's nervous condition it cannot be agreeable to
her to have the disturbance of a room-mate."

"What do you say, my child?" inquired Mr. Rockharrt of his guest.

"Sweet Cora never could disturb me under any circumstances, but it
cannot be good for her to room with such a nervous creature as I am just
at present," replied Rose.

"Umph! It appears to me that you two women wish to have separate rooms
each only for the welfare of the other. Well, you shall have them. Take
Mrs. Stillwater up stairs, Cora, while I step into the office," said Mr.
Rockharrt.

Cora drew the convalescent's arm within her own, and helped her to climb
the easy flight of