“My guest chambers are all vacant,” wrote Mrs. Fremont, “and my girls are delighted with the prospect of having someone new to the place to show around and gossip with.  But, with your houseful, surely you can spare more than two of your family.  Remember, I have not seen any of you since we came to Charlottetown, so be generous.  Launcelot must not think of returning for some weeks, and he must come prepared to see a deal of service, for my girls have already planned drives and picnics that he must lead to success, for Huburt has not yet returned from abroad, and an elder brother is sadly missed in these little pleasure-parties.  Elsie shall have the best of care, and I feel safe in promising that when she returns home all trace of her illness will be dispelled.”

But Elsie shrank from this visit and begged to be allowed to stay at home.  She was naturally shy and reserved, and to go among new faces, and into strange places, and be expected to take part in the pleasures that were being prepared, oh! this was worse than being ill at home, for then her own dear ones would be near her.

But the visit, like the big doses of medicine that the doctor ordered, had to be taken, whether she liked it or not, and the preparations went on, though it grieved her mother to see how Elsie shrank from the visit.

One day when Elsie was crying about her “banishment from home,” Dexie Sherwood came into the room, and learning the cause of Elsie’s tears she frankly stated her mind as follows: 

“Well, if you are not a baby, then I never saw one!  The idea of you lying there crying until your eyes are red and swollen because you are going off on a fine cruise!  I declare! if I thought I should be treated half so well, I’d fall sick this very day, and you may be sure I would select some complaint that required a change of scene to restore me,” and, assuming an expression of extreme woe, she added: 

“Your kind friend in Charlottetown didn’t say that any sick neighbor might join you, I suppose? for, ah me!  I am beginning to feel awfully bad already.  Where, oh! where can I go to regain my shattered health?”

Elsie’s tears of grief changed to tears of laughter, and she replied,

“Well, I suppose it does look silly for me to be fretting because I have to go away, but I hate to go among strange people.  If Cora could come with me I would not mind it at all.”

“But Lancy is going with you,” said Dexie, “so you cannot come to any great harm.  The people over there are quite civilized, I’m told, so they won’t likely eat you; not till you get a little more flesh on your bones, anyway.”

Mrs. Gurney, who was in the room, lifted her eyes to Dexie’s animated face, and said in her gentle, motherly tone,

“Dexie, my dear, why couldn’t you go with Elsie?  I was stupid not to have thought of it before.”

“For my health, do you mean, Mother Gurney?  But I am afraid I have recovered it already.  I have made Elsie laugh, and the unusual sound has cured me like a charm.”