arding-house at Nahant, and he insisted upon
both her and Gertrude to take up their quarters for a week or two; and
then, if Emily were no better, he hoped to have leisure to start off
with them in search of health. Emily thought she was doing very well
where she was, and was afraid to be troublesome to Mrs. Jeremy.

"Don't talk about trouble, Emily; you ought to know Mrs. Jeremy better
by this time. Come up to-morrow; I'll meet you at the cars! Good-bye!"

Gertrude followed him. "I see, doctor, you think Emily is not so well."

"No; how should she be? What with the sea roaring on one side, and Mrs.
Fellows's babies on the other, it's enough to wear away her strength. I
won't have it so! This isn't the place for her, and do you bring her up
to my house to-morrow."

"The babies don't usually cry as much as they have to-day," said
Gertrude, smiling; "and as to the ocean, Emily loves dearly to hear the
waves rolling in."

"Knew she did!" said the doctor. "Shan't do it; bad for her; it makes
her sad, without her knowing why. Bring her up to Boston, as I tell
you."

It was three weeks after the arrival of his visitors before the popular
physician could steal away from his patients to enjoy a few weeks'
recreation in travelling. For his own sake he would hardly have thought
of attempting so unusual a thing as a journey; and his wife, too, loved
home so much better than any other place that she was loth to start for
parts unknown; but both were willing to sacrifice their long-indulged
habits for the advantage of their young friends.

Emily was decidedly better; and viewed with pleasure the prospect of
visiting West Point, Catskill, and Saratoga, even on her own account;
and when she reflected upon the probable enjoyment the trip would afford
Gertrude, she felt herself endowed with new strength for the
undertaking. Gertrude needed change of scene and diversion of mind
almost as much as Emily. The excessive heat, and her constant attendance
in the invalid's room, had paled the roses in her cheeks, while care and
anxiety had weighed upon her mind.

New York was their first destination; but the heat and dust of the city
were almost insufferable, and during the day they passed there only Dr.
Jeremy ventured out of the hotel except once, when Mrs. Jeremy and
Gertrude went in search of dress-caps. But the doctor passed the whole
day in the revival of old acquaintances, and some of these warm-hearted
friends having presented