“Will himself is very grateful to him,” said Rosie.  “He has told me that he feels he owes his life to Doctor Arthur and that nothing can ever fully repay the obligation.”

“Yes; he has talked to me in the same strain more than once or twice,” said Harold.  “Now I think of it, I should not be at all surprised if they would be willing to take the Crolys in at Roselands for a time.  There is a good deal of unoccupied room in the house, and having her there would enable Arthur to watch the case closely and do everything possible for her restoration to health.”

“Oh, that would be a grand plan!” exclaimed Rosie.  “Though perhaps it would make too much care for our lady cousins—­Mary and Marian.”

“Well, we won’t suggest it,” returned Harold, “but just tell Arthur her wishes—­Mrs. Croly’s, I mean—­and let him give his opinion in regard to possible boarding places.  Would not that be the better plan, mother?”

“I think so,” she said, taking out her watch, as she spoke.  “Ah! it wants but five minutes of the dinner hour.  I must go at once to my rooms and make ready for the summons to the table.”

It was not thought worth while to make Mrs. Croly’s request a secret from any member of the family, so the matter was talked over among them as they sat together on the veranda that evening, and the different boarding places in the vicinity were considered.  It was feared none of them could furnish quite such accommodations as might be desired without placing the invalid farther from her physician than would be convenient for the constant oversight of the case which they supposed he would want to exercise.

“Well, evidently,” remarked Herbert at length, “we will have to refer the question to Cousin Arthur himself.  And here he comes, most opportunely,” as a horseman turned in at the avenue gates.

He was greeted with warmth of cordiality and speedily installed in a luxuriously easy chair.

“I was passing,” he said, “and though I don’t like to be long away from my wife and boy, I felt an irresistible inclination to give my Ion relatives and friends a brief call.”

“And omitting that ugly word brief, it is just exactly what we are all delighted to receive,” laughed Zoe.

“Yes,” said Mr. Dinsmore, “we were talking of you and wanting your opinion on a certain matter under discussion.”

“Ah, what was that?” Arthur asked in return, and Mr. Dinsmore went on to explain, telling of the desire of Mrs. Croly to put herself under his care for at least a time, and asking his opinion of the various boarding places in the vicinity.

“Boarding places!” he exclaimed.  “We would be only too glad to receive her as a guest at Roselands; for as you all know I feel under great obligation to Mr. Croly, her husband; besides, it would make it much easier for me to take charge of her case.  Poor dear woman!  I hope she may be at least partially, if not entirely, restored to health.”