Then, when the hope of issue had almost passed away, a little daughter came.

Naturally the child was idolised by her parents, and thereafter every step taken by either was with an eye to her good.
When the rigour of winter and the heat of summer told on the child in a way which the more hardy parents had never felt, she was whirled away to some place with more promising conditions of health and happiness.

When the doctors hinted that an ocean voyage and a winter in Italy would be good, those too were duly undertaken.

And now, the child being in perfect health, the family was returning before the weather should get too hot to spend the summer at their chalet amongst the great pines on the slopes of Mount Ranier.

Like the others on board, Mr.and Mrs.
Stonehouse had proffered travellers' civilities to the sad, lonely young man.