“No,” said Harold, “I should not deny it, but would have a distinct understanding that it was not expected or desired, at the cost of hardship or self-denial to the giver, or his or her nearer and dearer ones.”

At that moment his mother stepped from the doorway into the veranda.  Very warmly affectionate greetings were exchanged, she was quickly installed in an easy-chair, and some moments were spent in lively chat.

“Do take off your bonnet, Cousin Elsie, and stay and dine with us,” urged Calhoun hospitably.  “Our young doctor here insists that he cannot; but let him go on and visit the patients he thinks need his services, and call here again for you; unless you will allow me the pleasure of seeing you safely home later in the day.”

“Thank you, Cal,” she said in reply, “but Rosie will be looking out for her mother—­as I promised her I would not be gone very long—­and I want to see some of my boy’s patients myself, and to make a little call at Beechwood.  You know they are all relatives there, and Annis and I very old and dear friends.”

“Yes; and it is growing late,” said Harold, consulting his watch; “so, whenever you are ready, mother, we will start.”

“I am that now,” she answered, rising with the words.  “Good-bye, Cousin Mary.  Come over to Ion whenever you can make it convenient.  And when you write home be as urgent as possible in your entreaties that your parents will come to the wedding and be prepared to remain in the neighbourhood for a long visit after it is over.”

“You may rest assured that I will do my very best to bring them here and for as long a stay as possible,” was Mary’s smiling and earnest reply.

“And never doubt, cousin, that I will do my best to second her efforts,” said Calhoun, handing her into the carriage as he spoke.

“Will there be time for a call at Beechwood, Harold?” she asked as they drove down the avenue.

“Oh, yes, mother!  I think so,” he replied.  “I have but two calls to make on the way, and it is not likely either need be very long.”

“I would not have anyone neglected for my convenience,” she remarked in a cheery tone, “but should be glad to spend a half hour with Annis if I can do so without loss or inconvenience to anyone else.”

“Always thoughtful for others, mother dear,” Harold said, giving her a most affectionate look and smile.  “I think you may trust me not to neglect my patients.”

“I hope so, indeed,” she responded; “and that you will never be less careful and considerate of the poor than of the rich.”

Fortunately they found all doing so well that no lengthened call was necessary, and they reached Beechwood in season to allow quite a long chat between the lady cousins before it would be time for Mrs. Travilla and her son to set out on their return to Ion.

They found Mr. Lilburn and Annis seated upon the front veranda, she with a bit of needlework in her hands, he reading aloud to her.  He closed his book as the carriage drove up, and laying it aside, hastened to assist his Cousin Elsie to alight, greeting her with warmth of affection as he did so.  Annis dropped her work and hastened to meet and embrace her, saying: