“Mamma has sent for my sisters Elsie and Violet.  She wants as many of her children and grandchildren near her as possible; but Harold and Herbert have to be left out because, being so far away, there is not time to summon them.”

“O Ned,” cried Rosie, in an agony of terror, “is—­is mamma in immediate danger?  What—­what is it Cousin Arthur is going to do?”

“A—­surgical operation is, he says, the only—­only thing that can possibly save her life, and—­he hopes it will.”

“But he isn’t certain?  O mamma, mamma!” cried Rosie, bursting into an uncontrollable fit of weeping.

Zoe was sobbing too, Edward holding her in his arms and scarce able to refrain from joining with her, and at that moment the Fairview carriage drove up, and Elsie Leland, alighting therefrom, quickly came in among them, asking in alarm, as she saw their tear-stained, agitated faces, “What is the matter?  Oh, is mamma ill?”

Then Edward’s story had to be repeated to her, and shortly after to Violet, who, with her children, arrived a little later.

They too seemed almost overwhelmed with distress.

“Can we go to her?” Violet asked, and Mrs. Dinsmore, who had just joined them, replied, “Not yet; your grandpa is with her, and wishes to have her to himself for a while.”

“Ob, I hope he will not keep us long away from her; our own, own dear mother!” exclaimed Rosie, with a fresh burst of tears and sobs.

“I think not long, Rosie, dear,” Mrs. Dinsmore replied soothingly, putting an arm round the weeping girl as she spoke, and smoothing her hair with gently caressing hand.  “Your mamma will be asking for you all presently.  She has said that until the danger is past, she wants you all near enough to be summoned to her side in a moment.”

“And I—­we all—­know she is ready for any event,” Elsie Leland said, in trembling, tearful tones.

“Yes; and I believe God will spare her to us for years to come, in answer to our prayers,” remarked Mrs. Dinsmore in cheerful, hopeful accents.

Walter had gone out into the grounds at the time the older ones repaired to the veranda, and Grace, with Violet’s little ones, had joined him there on alighting from the carriage which had brought them from Woodburn.

The four now came running in and Walter, noticing the looks of grief and anxiety on the faces of the older people asked anxiously, “What’s the matter, folks?” then added quickly.  “Oh, I hope mamma is not worse!  Is that it, grandma?” His query was not answered, for at that moment Dr. Conly’s carriage came driving up the avenue.  All crowded about him as he alighted and came up the steps into the veranda.  That, however, was nothing new for he was a great favorite, being not only their relative, but their trusted and valued physician.

“You have come to see mamma?” Mrs. Leland said, half inquiringly.  “Oh, Cousin Arthur, do be frank with us! do tell us plainly what you think of her case.”