Clover

missed her, but nobody so much as Clover, who all her life

Clover had small leisure to be mournful. Rose was so bright and merry and affectionate that Elsie and John were almost as much in love with her as Clover herself, and sat and sunn

he morning of the fourth day, prepared to carry his family away with him. He spent one night at Dr. Carr's, and they all liked him very much. No one could help it,

th us all summer,-you and little Rose! He can come back in S

tself to a casual observer, but I am really quite foolish about Deniston. I shouldn't be happy away from hi

gravating condition of things for outsiders that was ever invented. I wish nobody had invented it. Here it would be so

when I've just found you again after all these years. I've had the most beautiful visit that ever was, and you've all been a

over fully recognized what it meant to have Katy married. Then indeed she could have found it in her heart to emulate Eugénie de la Ferronayes, and shed tears over all the little inanimate objects which her sister had left behind,-the worn-out gloves, the old dressing slippers in the shoe-bag. But dear me, we get

in August, the letters came from Bar Harbor, where Katy had followed, in company with the commodore's wife, who seemed as nice as her husband; and Clover heard of all manner of delightful doings,-sails, excursions, receptions on board ship, and long moonlight paddles with Ned, who was an expert canoeist. Everybody was so wonderfully kind, Katy said; but Ned

of being at the head of domestic affairs, and succeeding to Katy's position as papa's special daughter,-the person to whom he came for all he wanted, and to whom he told his little secrets. She and Elsie became more intimate than they had ever been

ns were coming," said Johnnie, one day. "It seems so

and say when," remarked Clover. "It is m

vember, and stay for Thanksgiving. After that the "Natchitoches" was to sail for an eighteen months' cruise to China and Japan; and then Ned

and a half with you, if urged. Don't all speak at o

fortnight of Ned's stay was to be spent at Mrs. Ashe's. "It's her only chance to see Ned,"

did mind

, hotly, while Clover and Elsie exchange

n that lesson once for all, children. There's no escape from the melancholy fact; and it's qui

es. But

nnie's face, he added more seriously, "Don't be cross, children, and spoil all Katy's pleasure in coming home, with

meanwhile was devising all sorts of pleasant and hospitable plans designed to make Ned's stay a sort of continuous fête to everybody. She put on no airs over the preference shown her, and was altogether so kind and friendly

n ease and polish of manner which her sisters admired very much. And after all, it seemed to make little difference at which house they stayed, for they were in and out of both all day long; and Mrs. Ashe t

or to let the others know how hard to bear his loss seemed to her. She never told any one how she lay awake in stormy nights, or when the wind blew,-and it seemed to blow oftener than usual that winter,-imagining the frigate in a gale, and whispering little prayers for Ned's safety. Then her good sense would come

of the lig

the tempest

howling,

port if we

he quiet Burnet household, and Katy's brief life with her husband began to seem dreamy and unre

g, and were thoroughly chilled. None of the others minded it much, but the exposure had a serious effect on Phil. He caught a bad cold which rapidly increased into pneumonia; and Christmas Day, usually such a bright one in the Carr household, was overshadowed by anxious forebodings, for Phil was seriously ill, and the doctor felt by no means sure how things would turn

things. The boy is just at a turning-point. Any little thing might set him o

done, and speedily-but what? Dr. Carr wrote to various medical acquaintances, and in reply pamphlets and letters poured in, each designed to prove that the particular part of the country to which the pamphlet or the letter referred was the only one to which it wa

He is neither old enough nor wise enough to manage by himself, bu

, but her father cut he

ed with the care of a sick brother. Besides, whoever takes charge of Phil must be prepared for a long absence,-at least a year. It

" suggested Katy. "That

mselves, and fared perfectly well. But in Phil's condition that would never answer. He has a

ted Katy. "Have y

ope, makes me pretty sure that St. Hele

n's! Wher

ome into notice for consumptives. It's very high up; nearly or quit

y, I think; she is such a sens

, who, like many other fathers, found it hard to realize that his children had outgrown their childhood. "However, there's no help

lingly. "Does Dr. Hope tell you anything about the place?" she

s climate goes, it is the right place, but I presume the accommodations are poor enough. The children must go prepared to rough it. The town was only settled ten or elev

rybody and everything she had always been used to, and go away to such a distance alone with Phil, made her gasp with a sense of dismay, while at the same time the idea that for the first time in he

and enclosed a list of crackers, jam, potted meats, tea, fruit, and hardware, which would have made a heavy load for a donkey or mule to carry. How were poor Clover and Phil to transport such a weight of things? Another advised against umbrellas and water-proof cloaks,-what was the use of such things where it never rained?-while a second letter, received the same day, assured the

ly ought to have, and which in a wild region might be hard to come by. Debby filled all the corners with home-made dainties of various sorts; and Clover, besides a spirit-lamp and a tea-pot, put into her trunks various small decorations,-Japanese fans and pictures, photographs, a vase or two, books and a sofa-pillow,-things which t

about his "Babes in the Wood" were greatly allayed by a visit from Mrs. Hal

ne, married a Phillips of Boston, and I've always heard that that family was one of the best there. She's had some malarial trouble, and is at the West now on account of it, staying with a friend in Omaha; bu

right sort of person, it will be an immense

see. She could join Clover and Philip as they

want Mrs. Watson to be burdened with any real care of the children, of course; but if she can arrange to go along w

lly grateful when she h

gure up to look as tall as possible. "I am twenty-two, I would have him remember. How do we know what

e sorry that it has happened, papa looks

rly in June, prepared to spend the summer; while almost simultaneously came a letter from Mrs. Ashe, who with Amy had been staying a couple of months in New York, to say that hearing of Ned's plan had decided her also to take a trip to California with some friends who had previously asked her to join them. These friends were, i

a complication, was the only difficulty; but a couple of telegrams settled that perplexity, and it was arranged that she should join them on the same train, though in a diffe