ma Elsie, "both as Christians and as
warm friends of Evelyn. And it will be quite the same with our other
friends."

With that the doctor bade good-morning and took his departure in the
direction of Woodburn. The family there were surprised and interested by
the news he had to tell of the arrival at Fairview, and of Laura's
feeble and ailing condition. They were evidently full of sympathy for
both mother and daughter, and had any help been needed would have given
it gladly. But the doctor assured them that rest and quiet were at
present the sick one's most pressing need.

"Poor dear Eva! I am so sorry for her!" sighed Lucilla when the doctor
had gone. "Papa, don't you think I might make myself of use helping her
with the nursing?"

"Not at present, daughter; though I can testify to your ability in that
line, and your services may possibly be needed at some future time," he
answered with an affectionate look and smile.

"Yes, Lu is a capital nurse, I think," said Violet, "but whatever she
does is sure to be well done."

"Thank you, Mamma Vi," returned the young girl, blushing with pleasure;
"it is most kind in you to say that; but if I am thorough in anything,
most of the credit belongs to my father, who has never allowed me to
content myself with a slovenly performance of my duties."

"No," he said, "what is worth doing at all is worth doing well; that is
a lesson I have endeavoured to impress upon each one of my children, and
one which I think they have all learned pretty thoroughly."

"And they have always had the teaching of example as well as precept,
from their father," remarked Violet with a look of loving appreciation
up into his face; "so that it would be strange indeed if they had not
learned it."

"Indeed that is true, mamma," said Grace. "It does seem to me that papa
does everything he undertakes as thoroughly well as anyone possibly
could."

"A very good idea for one's children to cultivate," laughed the captain.
Then consulting his watch, "But it is high time we were in the
schoolroom, daughters. Elsie and Ned have been there this half hour, and
probably have a lesson or two ready to recite."

"And Eva will not be with us to-day; probably not for many more days,"
remarked Lucilla with a slight sigh of disappointment and regret, as she
and Grace rose and gave prompt obedience to her father's implied order.

"Yes," he said, "I fear so; but her first duty is to her mother."

So Evelyn herself fe