"I could not help it, with the prospect of Lancey boy," he said in
smiling excuse, holding out a hand in greeting to Gerald, and
thanking Anna, who brought a cushion.

"Hark! there he is!" and Gerald and Anna sprang forward, but were
only in time to open the room door, when there was a double cry of
greeting, not only of the slender, bright-eyed, still youthful-
looking uncle, but of the pleasant face of his wife. She exclaimed
as Lancelot hung over his brother—-

"Indeed, I would not have come but that I thought he was still in his
room."

"That's a very bad compliment, Gertrude, when I have just made my
escape."

"I shall be too much for you," said Gertrude. "Here, children, take
me off somewhere."

"To have some dinner," said Geraldine, her hand on the bell.

"No, no, Marilda feasted me."

"Then don't go," entreated Clement. "It is a treat to look at you
two sunny people."

"Let us efface ourselves, and be seen and not heard," returned
Gertrude, sitting down between Gerald and Anna on a distant couch,
whence she contemplated the trio-—Clement, of course, with the
extreme pallor, languor, and emaciation of long illness, with a brow