Elsie at Home | Page 4

more about it, mamma," added Evelyn in a tone of playful authority.
"What would be the use when you have a tolerably rich, grown-up
daughter, whose principal business and pleasure it will be to take care
of and provide for her long-lost, but now happily recovered mother.
And here comes uncle with your sleeping potion," she added, as Mr.
Leland at that moment appeared in the doorway, cup in hand.
"Here is something which I hope will quiet your cough, Laura," he said,
coming to the bedside. "It is not bad to take, either, and will be likely to
secure you a good night's rest."
"I don't know," she returned doubtfully, eyeing the cup with evident
disfavour, "I was never good at dosing."
"You prefer lying awake, racked with that distressing cough?"
"No," she sighed, taking the cup from his hand, "even quite a bad dose
would be better than that. And it was not so bad after all," she
concluded as she returned the cup, after swallowing its contents.
"Glad to hear you say so," he said in reply. "And now take my further
advice--lie still and go to sleep, leaving all the talk with Eva till
to-morrow. Good-night to you both." And he left the room, followed

presently by his wife, who lingered only until she had made sure that
all the wants of the invalid were fully supplied.
Laura had already fallen into a sweet sleep, under the soothing
influence of the draught, and Eva presently stretched herself beside her,
and with a heart filled with contending emotions--love for this her only
remaining parent, joy in their reunion, sorrow and care in view of her
evident exhaustion and ill-health, and plans for making her remaining
days happy--lay awake for a time silently asking for guidance and help
from on high, then fell into dreamless, refreshing sleep.
CHAPTER II.
Morning found the invalid somewhat refreshed by her night's rest, yet
too languid and feeble to leave her room, and her day was spent
reclining upon a couch, with her daughter by her side. Dr. Conly made
an early call, prescribed, talked to her and Eva in a cheerful strain,
saying he hoped that rest and a change of weather would soon bring her
at least a measure of relief and strength; but in reply to the anxious
questioning of Mr. and Mrs. Leland, he acknowledged that he found
her far gone in consumption, and did not think she could last many
weeks.
"Poor dear Eva! how very sad it will be for her to lose her mother so
soon after recovering her!" sighed Mrs. Leland. "I think we must let her
remain in ignorance of the danger for a time at least."
"Yes," assented her husband; "though we must not neglect any effort in
our power to prepare Laura for the great change which awaits her," he
added with a look of anxiety and care.
"Nor fail to offer up earnest petitions for her at the Throne of Grace,"
said Grandma Elsie, in her low, sweet tones. "Oh, what a blessing, what
a comfort it is that we may take there all our fears, cares, and anxieties
for ourselves and others! And how precious the Saviour's promise, 'If
two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that you shall ask,
it shall be done for you of my Father which is in heaven'!"

"Yes, mother dear," assented Mrs. Leland, "and we will claim and
plead it for our poor dear Laura, and for Eva, that she may be sustained
under the bereavement which awaits her."
"Yes," said Dr. Conly, "and there are many of our friends who will be
ready to join us in the petition. I am going now to Woodburn--the
captain having telephoned me that one of the servants is ill--and we all
know that he and his will be full of sympathy for Eva and her sick
mother."
"No doubt they will," said Grandma Elsie, "both as Christians and as
warm friends of Evelyn. And it will be quite the same with our other
friends."
With that the doctor bade good-morning and took his departure in the
direction of Woodburn. The family there were surprised and interested
by the news he had to tell of the arrival at Fairview, and of Laura's
feeble and ailing condition. They were evidently full of sympathy for
both mother and daughter, and had any help been needed would have
given it gladly. But the doctor assured them that rest and quiet were at
present the sick one's most pressing need.
"Poor dear Eva! I am so sorry for her!" sighed Lucilla when the doctor
had gone. "Papa, don't you think I might make myself of use helping
her with the nursing?"
"Not at present, daughter; though I can testify