"Who shall decide when doctors disagree ?" In the end Clover concluded that it was best to follow the leadings of commonsense and rational precaution, do about a quarter of what people advised, and leave the rest undone; and she found that this worked very well.
As they knew so little of the resources of St.Helen's, and there was such a strong impression prevailing in the family as to its being a rough sort of newly-settled place, Clover and Katy judged it wise to pack a large box of stores to go out by freight: oatmeal and arrowroot and beef-extract and Albert biscuits,--things which Philly ought to have, and which in a wild region might be hard to come by.

Debby filled all the corners with home-made dainties of various sorts; and Clover, besides a spirit-lamp and a tea-pot, put into her trunks various small decorations,--Japanese fans and pictures, photographs, a vase or two, books and a sofa-pillow,--things which took little room, and which she thought would make their quarters look more comfortable in case they were very bare and unfurnished.

People felt sorry for the probable hardships the brother and sister were to undergo; and they had as many little gifts and notes of sympathy and counsel as Katy herself when she was starting for Europe.
But I am anticipating.

Before the trunks were packed, Dr.Carr's anxieties about his "Babes in the Wood" were greatly allayed by a visit from Mrs.
Hall.

She came to tell him that she had heard of a possible "matron" for Clover.
"I am not acquainted with the lady myself," she said; "but my cousin, who writes about her, knows her quite well, and says she is a highly respectable person, and belongs to nice people.