t we, mother?" said the son.

"Yes, my boy," she replied. "No love was ever stronger than that which
binds us together."

"I love to hear you say that," remarked Dorothy; "but now I want to talk
on quite another matter. I am very anxious about Effie."

"Effie!" said Mrs. Staunton, just glancing at her daughter. "What about
her? She seems quite well. Are you well, Effie?"

"Yes, mother, I am perfectly well," replied Effie.

"Oh, it is not that," said Dorothy, a touch of scorn coming into her
voice. "Effie may be well in body, but she is just starved in soul."

"Starved!" said Mrs. Staunton, with a start "What do you mean, Dorothy?"

"Oh, never mind her, please, mother," said Effie in distress. "I am all
right, really."

"No, she is not," continued Dorothy. "She is not right in the way I
should like to see her right. The fact is, she wants a change."

"Poor child!" said Mrs. Staunton. "We are not rich enough to think of
changes."

"The sort of change she wants will not cost you any money. The fact is,
I want her to become what Heaven has intended her to be, a thoroughly
trained hospital nurse. There is a vacancy now for a probationer at St.
Joseph's, and I can get her admitted at once. May she come? That's the
main point to consider."

Mrs. Staunton looked at Effie. Effie looked back at her mother.

It seemed to Effie at that moment as if she would have given anything
for her mother to say, "No, I cannot spare her." On the contrary, Mrs.
Staunton said in a calm voice:

"I leave the choice entirely to Effie herself. If she thinks she can be
spared, she may go. The fact is, Effie, my love, your--your dear father
spoke to me on this subject the very night he was taken ill. He seemed
to wish it then; that is, if you cared for it yourself. If you are still
of the same way of thinking, I for one should not think it right to make
the slightest opposition."

"But how are you to do without her?" asked George in some dismay.

"Oh, I can manage--I am not the helpless old woman you seem to consider
me, George. I really feel better and stronger every day. The more I do
for you, the less of an invalid I seem to be. Effie has been quite
tiresome lately, trying to manage the money, and taking all care off my
hands, but I am quite capable of seeing to matters myself; and then
Agnes is growing a big girl, she can go out to buy what I shall order."

Effie looked very pale. She sat perfectly still for a moment. Then she
st