y from
him in Italy. If I was but at Redclyffe!'

'Do you really wish it?' said Charles, surprised.

'Yes, if I could do him any good.'

'Would you go there?'

'If I had but papa or mamma to go with me.'

'Do you think I should do as well?'

'Charlie!'

'If you think there would be any use in it, and choose to take the
trouble of lugging me about the country, I don't see why you should
not.'

'Oh! Charlie, how very, kind! How thankful poor Laura will be to you! I
do believe it will save him!' cried Amabel, eagerly.

'But, Amy,'--he paused--'shall you like to see Redclyffe?'

'Oh! that is no matter,' said she, quickly. 'I had rather see after
Philip than anything. I told you how he was made my charge, you know.
And Laura! Only will it not be too tiring for you?'

'I can't see how it should hurt me. But I forget, what is to be done
about your daughter?'

'I don't know what harm it could do her,' said Amy, considering. 'Mrs.
Gresham brought a baby of only three months old from Scotland the other
day, and she is six. It surely cannot hurt her, but we will ask Dr.
Mayerne.'

'Mamma will never forgive us if we don't take the doctor into our
councils.'

'Arnaud can manage for us. We would sleep in London, and go on by an
early train, and we can take our--I mean my--carriage, for the journey
after the railroad. It would not be too much for you. How soon could we
go?'

'The sooner the better,' said Charles. 'If we are to do him any good, it
must be speedily, or it will be a case of shutting the stable-door. Why
not to-morrow?'

The project was thoroughly discussed that evening, but still with the
feeling as if it could not be real, and when they parted at night they
said,--'We will see how the scheme looks in the morning.'

Charles was still wondering whether it was a dream, when the first thing
he heard in the court below his window was--

'Here, William, here's a note from my lady for you to take to Dr.
Mayerne.'

'They be none of them ill?' answered William's voice.

'O no; my lady has been up this hour, and Mr. Charles has rung his bell.
Stop, William, my lady said you were to call at Harris's and bring home
a "Bradshaw".'

Reality, indeed, thought Charles, marvelling at his sister, and his
elastic spirits throwing him into the project with a sort of enjoyment,
partaking of the pleasure of being of use, the spirit of enterprise, and
the 'fun' of starting independently on an expedition unknown to