But oh, tell me, please, is Gracie very sick ?" "I hope not, my dear; the doctor thinks she will be in her usual health in a day or two." The boys were already speeding away.
The doctor had sent every one out of the sick-room except Mrs.Dinsmore and Captain Raymond.

The child clung to her long-absent father, and he would not leave her until she slept.
Elsie led the way to Violet's room, and there they held each other in a long, tender, silent embrace.
"My darling!" the mother said at length, "how I have missed you! how glad I am to have you in my arms again!" "Ah, mamma! my own dearest mamma, it seems to me you can hardly be so glad as I am!" cried Vi, lifting her face to gaze with almost rapturous affection into that of her mother.

"I do not know how I could ever bear a long separation from you!" "You are happy ?" "Yes, mamma, very, very happy.

I could never live without my husband now.
Ah, I did not dream of half the goodness and lovableness I have already found in him.

But ah, I am forgetting his children, Max and Lulu!" she added, hastily releasing herself from her mother's arms.