me moments, then the mother said, "Vi, dearest,
there is nothing more conducive to cheerfulness at such a time as this
than being fully employed. So I ask you to take charge of Rosie and Walter
for a few hours. They are not yet well enough for tasks or for out door
sports, but need to be amused. And your grandpa and grandma want me to
drive with them to the Laurels and Roselands."

"Yes, do go, mamma, and try to enjoy yourself. You have seen so little of
Aunt Adelaide since she came, or of Aunt Rosie, since the sickness began
with her children and ours. Thank you for your trust, I shall do my best,"
Violet said with cheerful alacrity. "Ah, the recovery of the darlings is
one of the many mercies we have to be thankful for!"

"Yes, Vi, and my heart is full of joy and gratitude to the Great
Physician."

At Roselands Mrs. Conly still lay helpless on her couch, her condition
having changed very slightly for the better; she could now at times, with
great effort, speak a word or two, but friends and physicians had scarcely
a hope of any further improvement; she might live on thus for years, or
another stroke might at any moment bring the end.

Cut off from all other means of communicating her thoughts and feelings,
she could show them only by the expression of her countenance, which was
sullen, fierce, despairing, piteous by turns.

She had the best of care and nursing from her sisters, her sons, and her
old mammy, assisted occasionally by other friends and relatives, and could
not fail to read in their faces and the tones of their voices tender pity
and sympathy for her in her sore affliction.

They could not tell whether she understood all that was said to her, but
hoping that she did, spoke often to her of the loving Saviour and tried to
lead her to Him.

Hitherto the Ion friends had not been able to be with her a great deal,
but it had not been necessary, as Adelaide was still at Roselands.

She, however, expected soon to return to her own home, and there would
then be greater need of their services; therefore there was double reason
for thankfulness for the restoration to health of the little ones at Ion
and the Laurels; releasing, as it did, both Mrs. Dinsmore and Mrs.
Travilla from the cares and labors which had occupied them for some weeks
past.

The latter gave expression to that thought while driving to the Laurels
with her father and his wife, adding, "I can now hold myself in readiness
to take Aunt Adelai