brothers and
sisters.

The ambulance stopped close to the veranda steps, and the same strong,
loving arms that had placed her in it now lifted her anew and bore her
into the house, the others looking on in awed and tearful silence.

She was carried to her own room, laid upon the bed, and one by one they
stood for an instant at her side with a kiss of welcome.

It was evident that she knew them all, though able to speak only with
those sad, wistful eyes that gazed with new yearning affection into the
faces of father and children.

But presently Arthur, by virtue of his medical authority, banished all
from the room except Lora, Elsie, and a faithful and attached old negress
who had lived all her days in the family and was a competent nurse.

CHAPTER VI.

"Then come the wild weather--come sleet or come snow,
We will stand by each other, however it blow;
Oppression and sickness, and sorrow and pain,
Shall be to our true love as links to the chain."
--_Longfellow_. (From the German.)

"Courage, sister dear!" whispered Edward Travilla, putting an arm tenderly
about Elsie's waist as they found themselves at the very door of Lester
Leland's studio.

Her face had grown very pale and she was trembling with agitation.

Still supporting her with his arm, Edward rapped gently upon the door, and
at the same instant it was opened from within by the attending physician,
who had just concluded his morning call upon his patient.

He was an Italian of gentlemanly appearance and intelligent countenance.

"Some friends of Signor Leland: from America?" he said in good English and
with a polite bow.

"Yes. How is he?" Edward asked, stepping in and drawing his sister on with
him.

"Sick, signor, very sick, but he will grow better now. I shall expect to
see him up in a few weeks," the doctor answered with a significant glance
and smile as he turned, with a second and still lower bow, to the sweet,
fair maiden.

She did not see it, for her eyes were roving round the room--a disorderly
and comfortless place enough, but garnished with some gems of art; an
unfinished picture was on the easel; there were others with their faces to
the wall; models, statues in various stages of completion, and the
implements of painter and sculptor were scattered here and there; a
screen, an old lounge, a few chairs, and a table littered with books,
papers, and drawing materials, completed the furniture