It was a low wooden house, which had once been painted brown; but the weather-stains on the walls, and the green moss and the lichens on the roof, made its only colouring now. It had wide eaves, and many small-paned windows, and a broad porch before the door. A wild vine covered the porch and one of the windows, and the buds were beginning to show green upon it. The house stood in a large garden, which might be a pretty garden in the summer-time, but nothing had been done to it yet. The sunshine was on it, however, and it was beautiful in Fidelia's eyes. She had lived in this old brown house more than half of the eighteen years of her life; she had been faithfully cared for and dearly loved; and there were tears in her eyes, though her face was bright, as she went in at the door. "You are coming in, Dr Everett?" said she. "Yes, I am coming in. Do you suppose Eunice has a glass of buttermilk for me this morning?" "If she has not, she has got cream for you, I am quite sure," said she, laughing. Then they went in, and, finding no one, they went through the house to the garden beyond, where a woman with a large white sun-bonnet on her head was stooping over some budding thing at her feet. She raised herself up in a little, and came towards them, closely examining something which she held in her hand. So she did not see them till she came near the door where they stood. As she glanced up and saw them a shadow seemed to pass over her face. The doctor saw it; but Fidelia only saw the smile that chased it away. "My little girl!" said Eunice softly. Fidelia hid her face on her sister's shoulder, and no word was spoken for a minute or two. Then they went into the house, and Fidelia said, with a little laugh,-- "I got homesick at the last minute, dear, and so I came home." "All right, dear. If you could spare the time, it was right to come. I am very glad." The doctor got his buttermilk and cream as well, but he sat still, seeming in no hurry to go away. He listened, and put in a word now and then, but listened chiefly. He lost no tone or movement of either; and when Fidelia went, at her sister's bidding, to take off her bonnet and shawl, he rose and took the elder sister's hand, putting his finger on her pulse. "Are you as well as usual these days, Eunice?" said he. For an instant she seemed to shrink away from him, and would not meet his eye. Then she said, speaking very slowly and gently,-- "I cannot say that I am quite as well as usual. I meant to see you in a day or two. Now I will wait a little longer." "Had you better wait?" "Yes, I think so. I am not going to spoil Fidelia's pleasure, now that she is at home for a few days, and I will wait. It won't really make any difference." "Eunice," said the doctor gravely, "are you afraid of--anything?" A sudden wave of colour made her face for the moment beautiful. Tears came into her eyes, but she smiled as she said,--