er."

"Mamma!" cried Elsie, starting to her feet, "I must go to him! go at once.
O dearest mother, do not hinder me!" and she clasped her hands in piteous
entreaty, the big tears rapidly chasing each other down her pale cheeks.

"If I could go with you," faltered the mother, "or your grandfather; but I
can neither leave nor take my little ones, and he would never consent to
leave me, or his poor old father, who seems just tottering on the verge of
the grave."

"I know! I see! but, O mother, mother! how can I let him die all alone in
a stranger land? Think if it had been you and my father!"

"What is your entreaty, daughter?" Mr. Dinsmore asked, coming up and
laying his hand affectionately upon his grandchild's shoulder.

"To go to him--to Lester, grandpa. Oh, how can I stay away and leave him
to die alone? to die for lack of the good nursing I could give him,
perhaps to the saving of his life!"

"My poor child! my poor dear child!" he said, caressing her; "we will see
what can be done in the way of finding a suitable escort, and if that can
be obtained your mother will not, I think, withhold her consent."

He had been telling the news to the others, and Edward had followed him,
anxious to express the sympathy for his sister with which his heart was
full.

"An escort, grandpa?" he said. "Would mine be sufficient? Mamma, if you
will permit me, I shall gladly go to Lester, either with or without
Elsie."

"My dear boy!" was all his mother said, her tones tremulous with emotion,
while his grandfather turned and regarded him with doubtful scrutiny.

"Oh, thank you, brother!" cried Elsie. "Mamma, surely you can trust me to
him! Who loves me better? except yourself--and who would take such tender
care of me?"

"Mamma, I would guard her with my life!" exclaimed Edward earnestly.

"My dear son, I do not doubt it," Mrs. Travilla answered, turning upon her
father a half-inquiring, half-entreating look.

"If no older or more experienced person can be found."

He paused, and Elsie burst out: "O grandpa, dear grandpa, don't say that!
There is no time to lose! no time to look for other escort!"

"That is true, my child; and we will not waste any time. Make your
preparations as rapidly as you can, and if nothing better offers in the
mean while, and your mother consents to Edward's proposition, you shall go
with him--and Ben who travelled all over Europe with your father and
myself--as your protectors."

She thanked hi