hardship or self-denial to the giver, or his or her nearer and dearer
ones."

At that moment his mother stepped from the doorway into the veranda.
Very warmly affectionate greetings were exchanged, she was quickly
installed in an easy-chair, and some moments were spent in lively chat.

"Do take off your bonnet, Cousin Elsie, and stay and dine with us,"
urged Calhoun hospitably. "Our young doctor here insists that he cannot;
but let him go on and visit the patients he thinks need his services,
and call here again for you; unless you will allow me the pleasure of
seeing you safely home later in the day."

"Thank you, Cal," she said in reply, "but Rosie will be looking out for
her mother--as I promised her I would not be gone very long--and I want
to see some of my boy's patients myself, and to make a little call at
Beechwood. You know they are all relatives there, and Annis and I very
old and dear friends."

"Yes; and it is growing late," said Harold, consulting his watch; "so,
whenever you are ready, mother, we will start."

"I am that now," she answered, rising with the words. "Good-bye, Cousin
Mary. Come over to Ion whenever you can make it convenient. And when you
write home be as urgent as possible in your entreaties that your parents
will come to the wedding and be prepared to remain in the neighbourhood
for a long visit after it is over."

"You may rest assured that I will do my very best to bring them here and
for as long a stay as possible," was Mary's smiling and earnest reply.