While Mrs. Stein was speaking, the sound of a horse’s hoofs was heard, and she hurried out to meet her husband and to tell him of Mrs. Stanhope’s arrival.  The doctor hastened away on foot to pay a visit to his new patient.  Not until late in the evening did he return; long after the children were safe in their beds.  Fred, by the way, had persevered till he had secured his aunt long enough to give her a thorough account of the appearance of the “green or water-frog.”  It had been no easy task, for each of the children had some special need of her that evening, and his mother, too; and even Kathri asked for “one word”; but Fred was not to be cheated, and he came out triumphant at last.

The doctor sat down hungry at the supper-table, and not one word did he speak to his expectant wife and sister, until he had satisfied his appetite.  He shook his head doubtfully, in answer to their questions about Nora.

“There is nothing to build upon,” he said; “the little plant has no strength.  It is not a case of failing health, but of utter want of vitality from the very beginning.  If our mountain air can work a miracle, we may see her restored; if not, there is no hope.”

His wife and “aunty” were grieved at this reply, though they had expected nothing better; but they tried to take a more cheerful view.

“While there is life, there is hope,” they said, “and our mountain air does certainly work wonders.”

“I should like to have Emma go to see the little girl, and try to amuse her now and then,” said the doctor presently; “Emma has too many schemes in her head; perhaps she will drop some of them if she gets interested in this child, and I am sure it would be a good thing; for her projects almost always end in some kind of mishap.  Nora will be rather astonished, probably, at some of her suggestions, but it will do no harm to the poor child to have some new and interesting ideas introduced into her restricted life, and there is no chance of her being enticed into joining in Emma’s wild pranks.  It will be good for both of them to be together.”

Mrs. Stein was pleased at the idea of a friendship between the girls.  Nora’s gentleness and delicacy might have a softening influence on her impulsive little daughter, while, on the other hand, Emma’s active, happy spirits could not fail to attract Nora, and to draw her out of herself.

Later in the evening, while the doctor was busy with his arrangements for the next day’s work, his wife and her sister sat together, as usual, over the great basket that stood always well supplied with mending and sewing of various kinds.  They talked over the experiences of the day, the conduct of the children, and the general affairs of the household, and took counsel together for the day to come.  This was the only time in the twenty-four hours that they could call their own, and they could hardly have got along without it; for their lives were so closely interwoven