. And at least, Mrs. Doctor, dear, do keep
him away from the blessed wee man. Picture to yourself how awful it
would be if he was to suck the darling's breath."

"That might be fitly called a CAT-astrophe," said Gilbert.

"Oh, you may laugh, doctor, dear, but it would be no laughing matter."

"Cats never suck babies' breaths," said Gilbert. "That is only an old
superstition, Susan."

"Oh, well, it may be a superstition or it may not, doctor, dear. All
that I know is, it has happened. My sister's husband's nephew's wife's
cat sucked their baby's breath, and the poor innocent was all but gone
when they found it. And superstition or not, if I find that yellow
beast lurking near our baby I will whack him with the poker, Mrs.
Doctor, dear."

Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Elliott were living comfortably and harmoniously
in the green house. Leslie was busy with sewing, for she and Owen were
to be married at Christmas. Anne wondered what she would do when
Leslie was gone.

"Changes come all the time. Just as soon as things get really nice
they change," she said with a sigh.

"The old Morgan place up at the Glen is for sale," said Gilbert,
apropos of nothing in especial.

"Is it?" asked Anne indifferently.

"Yes. Now that Mr. Morgan has gone, Mrs. Morgan wants to go to live
with her children in Vancouver. She will sell cheaply, for a big place
like that in a small village like the Glen will not be very easy to
dispose of."

"Well, it's certainly a beautiful place, so it is likely she will find
a purchaser," said Anne, absently, wondering whether she should
hemstitch or feather-stitch little Jem's "short" dresses. He was to be
shortened the next week, and Anne felt ready to cry at the thought of
it.

"Suppose we buy it, Anne?" remarked Gilbert quietly.

Anne dropped her sewing and stared at him.

"You're not in earnest, Gilbert?"

"Indeed I am, dear."

"And leave this darling spot--our house of dreams?" said Anne
incredulously. "Oh, Gilbert, it's--it's unthinkable!"

"Listen patiently to me, dear. I know just how you feel about it. I
feel the same. But we've always known we would have to move some day."

"Oh, but not so soon, Gilbert--not just yet."

"We may never get such a chance again. If we don't buy the Morgan
place someone else will--and there is no other house in the Glen we
would care to have, and no other really good site on which to build.
This little house is--well, it is and has been w