A few days thereafter, when Miss Ercildoune went over to Philadelphia, Sallie and Frank bore her company.  She had become as thoroughly interested in them as though she had known and cared for them for a long while; and as she was one who was incapable of doing in an imperfect or partial way aught she attempted, and whose friendship never stopped short with pleasant sounding words, this interest had already bloomed beautifully, and was fast ripening into solid fruit.

She had written in advance to desire that certain preparations should be made for her proteges,—­preparations which had been faithfully attended to; and thus, reaching a strange city, they felt themselves not strangers, since they had a home ready to receive them, and this excellent friend by their side.

The home consisted of two rooms, neat, cheerful, high up,—­“the airier and healthier for that,” as Sallie decided when she saw them.

“I believe everything is in order,” said the good-natured-looking old lady, the mistress of the establishment.  “My lodgers are all gentlemen who take their meals out, and I shall be glad of some company.  Any one whom Friend Comstock recommends will be all right, I know.”

As Mrs. Healey’s style of designation indicated, Friend Comstock was a Quakeress, well known, greatly esteemed, an old friend of Miss Ercildoune, and of Miss Ercildoune’s father.  She it was to whom Francesca had written, and who had found this domicile for the wanderers, and who at the outset furnished Sallie with an abundance of fine and dainty sewing.  Indeed, without giving the matter special thought, she was surprised to discover that, with one or two exceptions, the people Miss Ercildoune sent her were of the peaceful and quiet sect.  This bird of brilliant plumage seemed ill assorted with the sober-hued flock.

She found in this same bird a helper in more ways than one.  It was not alone that she gave her employment and paid her well, nor that she sent her others able and willing to do the same.  She found Frankie a good school, and saw him properly installed.  She never came to them empty-handed; through the long, hot summer-time she brought them fruit and flowers from her home out of town; and when she came not herself, if the carriage was in the city it stopped with these same delightful burdens.  Sallie declared her an angel, and Frank, with his mouth stuffed full, stood ready to echo the assertion.

So the heated term wore away,—­before it ended, telling heavily on Sallie.  Her anxiety about Jim, her close confinement and constant work, the fever everywhere in the spiritual air through that first terrible summer of the war, bore her down.

“You need rest,” said Miss Ercildoune to her one day, looking at her with kindly solicitude,—­“rest, and change, and fresh air, and freedom from care.  I can’t give you the last, but I can the first if you will accept them.  You need some country living.”