"Perhaps it is that they are coming home; it is getting so late in the fall now, that I'm expecting every day to hear that." "Let's go down to grandpa," said Vi, rising, while a faint color stole into her cheek, which had grown very pale at the thought that the little pet sister might be dead or dying.

"No, no," as a step was heard on the stairs, "he is coming to us." The door opened, and Mr.Dinsmore entered.

One look into his grief-stricken face, and Violet threw herself into his arms, and wept upon his breast.
He soothed her with silent caresses; his heart almost too full for speech; but at length, "It is not the worst," he said in low, moved tones, "she lives, but has had a relapse, and they are bringing her home." "Home to die!" echoed Violet's heart, and she clung about her grandfather's neck, weeping almost convulsively.
Tears coursed down Molly's cheeks also, and Eddie, hardly less overcome than his sister, asked tremulously, "How soon may we expect them, grandpa ?" "In about two days, I think; and my dear children, we must school ourselves to meet Lily with calmness and composure, lest we injure, by exciting and agitating her.

We must be prepared to find her more feeble than when she went away, and much exhausted by the fatigue of the journey." Worse than when she went away! and even then the doctors gave no hope! It was almost as if they already saw her lying lifeless before them.
They wept themselves to sleep that night, and in the morning it was as though death had already entered the house; a solemn stillness reigned in all its rooms, and the quiet tread, the sad, subdued tones, the oft falling tear, attested the warmth of affection in which the dear, dying child was held.
A parlor car was speeding southward; its occupants, a noble looking man, a lovely matron, a blooming, beautiful girl of seventeen, a rosy babe in his nurse's arms, and a pale, fragile, golden-haired, blue-eyed child of seven, lying now on a couch with her head in her mother's lap, now resting in her father's arms for a little.
She seemed the central figure of the group, all eyes turning ever and anon, upon her in tenderest solicitude, every ear attentive to her slightest plaint, every hand ready to minister to her wants.
She was very quiet, very patient, answering their anxious, questioning words and looks with many a sweet, affectionate smile or whisper of grateful appreciation of their ministry of love.
Sometimes she would beg to be lifted up for a moment that she might see the rising or setting sun, or gaze upon the autumnal glories of the woods, and as they drew near their journey's end she would ask, "Are we almost there, papa?
shall I soon see my own sweet home, and dear brothers and sisters ?" At last the answer was, "Yes, my darling; in a few moments we shall leave the car for our own easy carriage, and one short stage will take us home to Ion." Mr.Dinsmore, his son, and Arthur Conly met them at the station, and told how longingly their dear ones at home were looking for them.
The sun had set, and shadows began to creep over the landscape as the carriage stopped before the door and Lily was lifted out, borne into the house and gently laid upon her own little bed.
She was nearly fainting with fatigue and weakness, and dearly as the others were loved, father and mother had no eyes for any but her, no word of greeting, as the one bore her past, the other hastily followed, with the doctor and grandfather, to her room.
But Elsie and Vi were quickly locked in each other's arms, mingling their tears together, while Rosie and the boys gathered round, awaiting their turn.
"Oh!" sobbed Rosie, "mamma didn't speak to me; she didn't look at me; she doesn't love me any more; nor my papa either." "Yes, they do, little pet," Elsie said, leaving Violet to embrace the little sister; "and sister Elsie loves you dearly, dearly.

Harold and Herbert too; as well as our big oldest brother," smiling up at Eddie through her tears, as he stood by her side.
He bent down to kiss her sweet lips.
"Lily ?" he said in a choking voice.
With a great effort Elsie controlled her emotion, and answered low and tremulously, "She is almost done with pain.