Edward hastened to assist his mother to alight, and all gathered about her and their grandfather with morning greetings spoken in cheerful but subdued tones; no one forgetting for a moment the illness of the little pet brother and sister, but all inquiring anxiously how they and “Mamma” had passed the night, and what was cousin Arthur’s report of their condition this morning.

“No worse, my dears; and we will hope that they may soon be decidedly better,” the mother answered, returning their greetings with affectionate warmth and smiling sweetly upon them.  “But you must let me go at once to the sick-room, and if all is well I shall be down presently to breakfast with grandpa and you.”

That announcement was heard with the greater pleasure because her loved face had seldom been seen at the table for some days past.

The face was bright and hopeful as she spoke, but an unwonted expression of sadness and anxiety came over it as she turned quickly away and went swiftly through the spacious entrance hall and up the broad stairway.

No earthly eye saw that look, but the traces of tears on her mother’s cheeks had not escaped Vi’s keen observation.

“Grandpa,” she said in low, tremulous tones, following him into the library, whither he went to await the summons to breakfast, “what has been distressing mamma so? is it that she is so anxious about Elsie and Walter?  May I not know?”

Mr. Dinsmore paused a moment before he replied.  “You shall know all about it, my dear child, before very long.  Be satisfied for the present with the assurance that your mother’s distress is for another’s woe.  You know what a tender, sympathetic heart she has.  I cannot deny that our little ones are seriously ill, but their case is very far from hopeless.”

CHAPTER II.

                   “Within her heart was his image,

Cloth’d in the beauty of love and youth, as last she beheld him,
Only more beautiful made by his deathlike silence and absence.”

          
                                                                      —­Longfellow.

The sick ones ware sleeping quietly when the mother entered; the doctor had already breakfasted, and would assist Aunt Chloe and Dinah in watching beside them for the next hour, so the two Elsies—­mother and daughter—­went down together to the breakfast parlor.

They were a more silent party than usual at meal-time, for no one could forget the two absent members of the family, or that they were suffering upon beds of sickness; yet there was no gloom in any face or voice:  their few words were spoken in cheerful tones, and each seemed unselfishly intent upon promoting the comfort and happiness of all the others; on the part of the children, especially of their grandfather and mother; each young heart was evidently full to overflowing of tenderest sympathy and love for her.