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?"