, and she
greatly surprised Fanny by putting her arms round her and kissing her
softly many times. They were in one of the bay windows of the great
drawing-room, a little withdrawn from the company generally, so that
they were unobserved by all but Arthur.

"Graeme's heart is overflowing with peace and good will to all on this
auspicious occasion," said he, laughing, but he was greatly pleased.

After this they had a few happy weeks. Rosie's preparations were by
this time, too far advanced to give any cause for anxiety or care, and
they all enjoyed the quiet. Letters came weekly from Will, or his
friend, sometimes from both, which set them quite at rest about the
invalid. They were no longer mere reports of his health, but long,
merry, rambling letters, filled with accounts of their daily life, bits
of gossip, conversation, even jokes at one another's expense, generally
given by Will, but sometimes, also, by the grave and dignified Mr
Ruthven, whom, till lately, all but Charlie had come to consider almost
a stranger. Still the end of May was come, and nothing was said as to
the day when they expected to set sail. But before that time, great
news had come from another quarter. Norman and his family were coming
East. A succession of childish illnesses had visited his little ones,
and had left both mother and children in need of more bracing air than
their home could boast of in the summer-time, and they were all coming
to take up their abode for a month or two, on the Gulf, up which
health-bearing breezes from the ocean never cease to blow. Graeme was
to go with them. As many more as could be persuaded were to go, too,
but Graeme certainly; and then she was to go home with them, to the
West, when their summer holiday should be over.

This was Norman's view of the matter. Graeme's plans were not
sufficiently arranged as yet for her to say either yes or no, with
regard to it. In the meantime, there were many preparations to be made
for their coming, and Graeme wrote to hasten these arrangements, so that
they might be in time for the wedding.

"And if only Will comes, we shall all be together again once more," said
she, with a long breath.

"To say nothing of Norman's boys, and his wonderful daughter, and
Fanny's young gentleman, who will compare with any of them now, I
think," said Rose.

"We will have a house full and a merry wedding," said Arthur. "Though
it won't be as grand as the other one, Rosie, I