at this reply, though they had
expected nothing better; but they tried to take a more cheerful view.

"While there is life, there is hope," they said, "and our mountain air
does certainly work wonders."

"I should like to have Emma go to see the little girl, and try to amuse
her now and then," said the doctor presently; "Emma has too many schemes
in her head; perhaps she will drop some of them if she gets interested
in this child, and I am sure it would be a good thing; for her projects
almost always end in some kind of mishap. Nora will be rather
astonished, probably, at some of her suggestions, but it will do no harm
to the poor child to have some new and interesting ideas introduced into
her restricted life, and there is no chance of her being enticed into
joining in Emma's wild pranks. It will be good for both of them to be
together."

Mrs. Stein was pleased at the idea of a friendship between the girls.
Nora's gentleness and delicacy might have a softening influence on her
impulsive little daughter, while, on the other hand, Emma's active,
happy spirits could not fail to attract Nora, and to draw her out of
herself.

Later in the evening, while the doctor was busy with his arrangements
for the next day's work, his wife and her sister sat together, as usual,
over the great basket that stood always well supplied with mending and
sewing of various kinds. They talked over the experiences of the day,
the conduct of the children, and the general affairs of the household,
and took counsel together for the day to come. This was the only time in
the twenty-four hours that they could call their own, and they could
hardly have got along without it; for their lives were so closely
interwoven that they needed this interchange of thoughts to help each
other and themselves. Naturally, the children were first discussed, with
their varied joys and sorrows, wants and wishes; next, the doctor's
patients, who came to the house from far and near; and last, the many
calls for sympathy and advice that reached their ears and their hearts
from all the country round about; for many were those who brought their
troubles of all kinds to this hospitable house, where they were always
sure of help and encouragement, of support in word and deed. So the two
sisters, on this, as on many another evening, had so many things of
interest to discuss and decide, that, under their busy hands, the heap
of unmended stockings in the work-basket melted a