Would not that be the better plan, mother ?" "I think so," she said, taking out her watch, as she spoke.

"Ah! it wants but five minutes of the dinner hour.

I must go at once to my rooms and make ready for the summons to the table." It was not thought worth while to make Mrs.Croly's request a secret from any member of the family, so the matter was talked over among them as they sat together on the veranda that evening, and the different boarding places in the vicinity were considered.

It was feared none of them could furnish quite such accommodations as might be desired without placing the invalid farther from her physician than would be convenient for the constant oversight of the case which they supposed he would want to exercise.
"Well, evidently," remarked Herbert at length, "we will have to refer the question to Cousin Arthur himself.

And here he comes, most opportunely," as a horseman turned in at the avenue gates.
He was greeted with warmth of cordiality and speedily installed in a luxuriously easy chair.
"I was passing," he said, "and though I don't like to be long away from my wife and boy, I felt an irresistible inclination to give my Ion relatives and friends a brief call." "And omitting that ugly word brief, it is just exactly what we are all delighted to receive," laughed Zoe.
"Yes," said Mr.Dinsmore, "we were talking of you and wanting your opinion on a certain matter under discussion." "Ah, what was that ?" Arthur asked in return, and Mr.Dinsmore went on to explain, telling of the desire of Mrs.Croly to put herself under his care for at least a time, and asking his opinion of the various boarding places in the vicinity.
"Boarding places!" he exclaimed.