ning round there
was always a cup of good soup ready for him, or later in the day some
hot coffee. But perhaps the best cordial to the tired, harassed doctor
was the sight of his wife's bright face. He would drink the soup,
snatch up his little daughter for a kiss and go back to his work
refreshed, but even to him the strain was excessive.

Olivia, who was unwilling to damp Greta's cheerfulness, would pour out
her troubles to her Aunt Madge, and Mrs. Broderick would listen with
her usual sympathy.

"I hope it is not wicked of me, Aunt Madge," she would say, "but I do
feel so worried and anxious. Marcus declares he is quite well, but he
is so tired every night that he can hardly drag himself to bed, and
when morning comes he is not a bit rested. I think Dr. Bevan's illness
has made me nervous, for I am always dreading that Marcus will break
down too."

"Women need lot of faith, don't they, Livy? Doctors' wives as well as
soldiers' wives, but I am not sure that you need fear for Marcus. He
is really strong, and at his age a little hard work will not hurt him.
He has his laurels to gather, you must remember that. 'It is an ill
wind that blows no one any good.'" But Olivia, who was tired and
depressed, was not so ready to be comforted.

"I would rather go on being poor than see my poor boy work so hard,"
she said, mournfully. "But it is not only that, Aunt Madge. Marcus is
very tender-hearted, and it makes him so unhappy when he loses a
patient. Of course I know why he looked so dull last night, that poor
young fellow Basil Greenwood is dead."

"Yes, I know; Dr. Randolph was called in," returned Mrs. Broderick;
"but a hundred physicians could not have saved him, the fever ran too
high."

"He was only eighteen and his poor mother doated on him, and now she is
ill too. They called Marcus up last night; he did not get back till
nearly five, but I had the fire lighted and some hot cocoa ready for
him. Marcus scolded me; he is always so afraid of my knocking up, but
I know he was glad of the cocoa. I tell Greta that I cannot be much
with her just now. I am so afraid of missing him when he comes in, and
of course she understands, but it is a little hard for her, poor child."

"Greta is very good," returned Aunt Madge. "She makes the best of
things. By-the-bye, what is this I hear of a grand new dress for the
wedding?" And then Olivia did brighten up a little.

Greta had begged in the most loving way th