are satisfied with the old. But think of the
shipwrecks and accidents that might have been averted! You will be
studying about all this some day when you go to Technology or college."

Ted's face lighted at the words.

"You have all been so kind to me, Mr. Fernald," he murmured. "When I
think of your sending me to college it almost bowls me over."

"You must never look upon it as an obligation, my boy," the old
gentleman declared. "If there is any obligation at all (and there is a
very real one) it is ours. The only obligation you have will be to do
well at your studies and make us proud of you, and that you are doing
all the time. Mr. Hazen tells me you are showing splendid progress. I
hope by another week Laurie will be out of the woods, Pine Lea will be
fumigated, and you can resume your former way of living there without
further interruptions from floods and illness. Still, I shall be sorry
to have your little visit at Aldercliffe come to an end. You seem to
have grown into the ways of the whole family and to fit in wherever you
find yourself."

Mr. Fernald smiled affectionately at the lad.

"There is something that has been on my tongue's end to whisper to you
for some time," he went on, after a brief interval of hesitancy. "I
know you can keep a secret and so I mean to tell you one. In the spring
we are going to take Laurie over to New York to see a very celebrated
surgeon who is coming from Vienna to this country. We hear he has had
great success with cases such as Laurie's and we hope he may be able to
do something for the boy. Of course, no one knows this as yet, not even
Laurie himself."

"Oh, Mr. Fernald! Do you mean there would be a chance that Laurie could
walk sometime?" Ted cried.

The old man looked into the young and shining face and nervously
brushed the back of his hand across his eyes.

"Perhaps; perhaps!" responded he gruffly. "Who can tell? This doctor
has certainly performed some marvelous cures. Who knows but the lad may
some day not only walk about, but leap and run as you do!"

"Oh, sir--!"

"But we must not be too sure or allow ourselves to be swept away by
hope," cautioned Grandfather Fernald. "No one knows what can be done
yet and we might be disappointed--sadly disappointed. Still, there is
no denying that there is a fighting chance. But keep this to yourself,
Ted. I must trust you to do that. If Laurie were to know anything about
it, it would be very unfortunate, for the ordea