rought home. The doctor thought it dangerous to do so. But you know the
grandfather's obstinacy. So a stretcher was prepared, a spring mattress
laid on it, and he has been borne all the way from North End to Rockhold
Ferry by relays of six men at a time, relieving each other at short
intervals, and escorted by the doctor and our two uncles. That, Cora, is
all I can tell you."

He then entered the house, followed by Cora.

They found Rose still in the front hall, where they had left her a few
minutes before. She was seated in one of the oak chairs wiping her eyes.
She had not seen the approaching procession with the burden they
carried. And of course she had not heard their silent movements.

She looked up in surprise at the re-entrance of Cora and Sylvan.

"Oh!" she exclaimed "Have you forgotten anything? So glad to see you
back, even for half a minute. For, after all, I couldn't see you drive
away. I just shut the door and flung myself into this chair to have a
good cry. Can't you put off your journey now, just for to-night and
start to-morrow? You will have to do it anyhow. You can't catch the 6:30
express now," she added, coming toward them.

"We shall not attempt it, Rose," said Sylvan, in a kinder tone than he
usually used in speaking to her.

"I am so glad," she said, but her further words were arrested by the
grave looks of the young man.

"What is the matter with you?" she suddenly inquired.

"There has been an accident, Rose. Not fatal, my dear, so don't be
frightened. My grandfather has been thrown from his carriage and
stunned. But he has recovered consciousness, and they are bringing him
home a deal shaken, but not in serious danger."

While Sylvan spoke, Rose gazed at him in perfect silence, with her blue
eyes widening. When he finished, she asked:

"How did it happen?"

Sylvan told her.

Rose dropped into a chair and covered her face with her hands. She was
more shocked than grieved by all that she had heard. If her tyrant had
been brought home dead, I think she would only have sighed

"With the sigh of a great deliverance!"

"Let us go now, Rose, and prepare his bed. Sylvan will stay hereto
receive him," said Cora.

The two women went up to the old man's room and turned down the
bedclothes, and laid out a change of linen, and many towels in case they
should be needed, and then went to the head of the stairs and waited and
listened.

Presently, through the open hall door, they heard