"And doubtless that thought makes you sad too, cousin," sighed Marian.
"Ah, what a world of partings it is! and how sudden and unexpected many
of them are."

"Yes; but there are none in that happy land to which we are journeying.
Ah, what a blessed land it must be! no sin, no sorrow, pain or care, no
death, but eternal life at the foot of the dear Master whose love for
his redeemed ones is greater, tenderer than that of a mother for her own
little helpless child."

"How intense it must be!" said Marian musingly. "I can realise that now
as I never could before my little darling came. But now, about Rosie and
her betrothed. Do they not expect to settle somewhere in this region,
cousin?"

"I think that question remains yet to be fully discussed; it is
certainly still undecided. Probably they will not for some time settle
permanently in any one spot. Mrs. Croly is an invalid, almost constantly
being taken from place to place in search of health, and never satisfied
to be long separated from either husband or son--her only child."

"Ah, I'm afraid that will make it hard for Rosie," said Marian. "By the
way, I think they would better bring her here and put her in our
doctor's care," she added with a smiling and arch look up into her
husband's face.

"Ah, my dear!" he said with a slight smile and a warning shake of the
head, "don't allow yourself to take to the business of hunting up cases
for me; especially chronic and incurable ones."