leave you to rest. You must of course
be anxious about your family. I will ride over to Fairview and bring you
news of them within the hour."

Chapter Fifteenth.

"It gives me wonder, great is my content,
To see you here before me."
--SHAKESPEARE'S OTHELLO.

"Sir, you are very welcome to our house."
--SHAKESPEARE

Day had fully dawned when Mr. Travilla re-entered his sleeping apartment
to find Elsie in bed again, but lying there with wide open eyes.

"How very quietly you came in; careful not to disturb me I suppose, my
good, kind husband," she said greeting him with a loving look and smile,
as he drew near her couch.

"Yes," he answered, bending over her and fondly stroking her hair. "I
hoped you were taking another nap."

"No, I feel as if I should never be sleepy again. I'm thinking of poor
Mrs. Leland. How troubled, anxious and distressed she must feel."

"Yes; I shall ride over there directly."

"And take me with you?"

"Gladly, if you like to go. You will do her more good than I."

"I doubt it; but perhaps both together may be better than either one
alone. Didn't she act bravely?"

"Yes; she's a noble woman."

They spent some moments in consulting together how to make their guest
comfortable and at the same time effectually conceal his presence in the
house.

They rejoiced in the fact that no one but themselves--his own son
excepted--had been cognizant of his arrival, and Elsie agreed with her
husband that it should be kept secret from the children; servants also
save Aunt Chloe and Uncle Joe, whose services would be needed, and who
could be trusted not to divulge the matter.

"Mammy will manage about his meals, I know," said Elsie, "and Dr.
Barton's visits may be supposed to be paid to Violet. The darling! how
glad and thankful I am that she seems to be losing her inclination to
sleep-walking."

"And I," said her husband; "thankful to God for his blessing on the
means used, and to Barton, who is certainly an excellent physician."

Their talk ended, husband and wife separated to their different
dressing-rooms.

Elsie rang for her maid and Aunt Chloe appeared in answer to the
summons.

Aunt Chloe was no longer young, or even elderly, but had attained to a
healthy and vigorous old age and still so delighted in her old pleasant
task of busying herself about the person of her young mistress, that
she would only occasionally resign it to other hands. She was a
household dignitary, he