“Mamma,” he said, “I am going over to Roselands and should like to take you along.  You have not seen that youngest Conly yet, and Arthur considers Marian now quite well enough for a call from you.  I know, too, that she is wanting to see you.”

“And I to see her, the dear girl,” responded his mother, laying aside her work.  “Come in and sit down while I don my bonnet and mantle.”

“Let me get them out for you, mamma,” said Rosie, dropping her embroidery and hastening to do so.

“I should include you in the invitation, Rosie,” said Harold, “but we think it safer not to let Marian have the excitement of many callers until she gains more strength.”

“I thought she was doing finely,” returned Rosie, bringing her mother’s mantle and putting it about her with loving care.

“So she is,” replied Harold with a light laugh; “but we cannot be too careful of her to satisfy her doting husband, and though eager to exhibit her new treasure to all her friends and relatives, she is entirely submissive to his will in the matter.”

“Oh, well, I can wait,” laughed Rosie.  “Give her my love, mamma, and tell her I am not staying away from any indifference to her or the little newcomer.”

“No fear that she would ever suspect you of that, Rosie dear,” her mother said, with a slight smile; “but I will assure her of your interest in both herself and baby boy.  Now good-bye till my return, which I presume will be in the course of an hour or two.”

“Don’t hurry home on my account, mamma dear,” returned Rosie.  “I shall not be lonely.  I have letters to write, and that will make the time pass quickly.”

“It is a lovely day and the short drive with my son will be very enjoyable,” Mrs. Travilla remarked, as Harold handed her into the vehicle.

“To us both, I hope, mother,” he returned, giving her an affectionate look and smile.  “Yours is to me the best company in the world.  The roads are in fine condition,” he added as he took up the reins and they started down the avenue, “the fields and gardens along the way also, and the air full of the fragrance of flower and shrub.  Oh, on such a morning as this it seems a joy just to be alive and well!”

“Yes,” she responded, “oh, what cause for gratitude to the Giver of all good that you and I, and all our nearest and dearest in this world, are alive and well.”

“Yes, mother; attendance upon the sick and suffering has given me a higher appreciation of the greatness of the blessing of sound health than I had in earlier days.  It is saddening to witness suffering from accident and disease, but a great privilege to be able in many cases to relieve it.  That last makes me thankful that I was led to choose the medical profession.”

“And you have often an opportunity to minister to souls as well as bodies; one which I hope you do not neglect.”