CHAPTER XI.
The next morning found Mrs.Travilla calm and peaceful, even cheerful, ready for either life or death.

She was up at her usual early hour, and Rosie and Walter, coming in for their accustomed half hour of Bible reading with mamma, found her at her writing-desk just finishing a note to Violet.
"Dear mamma," exclaimed Walter, in a tone of delight, "you are looking so much better and brighter this morning.

I was really troubled about you last night lest you were going to be ill; you were so pale, and grandpa looked so worried." "Grandpa is always easily frightened about mamma if she shows the slightest indication of illness," said Rosie; "as indeed we all are, because she is so dear and precious; our very greatest earthly treasure.
"Mamma dearest, I am so rejoiced that you are not really sick!" she added, dropping on her knees beside her mother's chair, clasping her arms about her, and kissing her again and again with ardent affection.
"I, too," Walter said, taking his station on her other side, putting an arm round her neck, and pressing his lips to her cheek.
She returned their caresses with words of mother love, tears shining in her eyes at the thought that this might prove almost her last opportunity.
"What do you think, Rosie ?" laughed Walter.

"Mamma called me her baby boy last night; me--a great fellow of eleven.

I think you must be her baby girl." But Rosie made no reply.