“I don’t know,” sighed Elsie. “I fear not. Each day I’ve thought I would be better the next, but I improve so slowly it is very discouraging. It doesn’t seem that I’ll ever be well and strong again, as I used to be.” “Oh, but you will—of course you will! You’re much better than you were in Virginia.” “I’d be dead now if I hadn’t improved at all,” returned Elsie, with a faint smile. “I used to feel so well. Inza, you’re wasting your time staying by me this way. I appreciate it, oh, so much! But, I know how you must feel. You are well and strong and full of life. You make me feel guilty over keeping you in like this. I feel that I am——” “There, there!” exclaimed Inza laughingly, placing a soft hand over Elsie’s lips. “I won’t listen to such nonsense! Are you not my dearest friend! It’s a great satisfaction to me if I can do anything for you, as I know how much you have done for me in the past and how much you would do now if you had the opportunity.” “But you would be with Frank a great deal more if you did not feel it your duty to stay here with me. I am robbing you of that pleasure. It is not right. You had a letter from him in the last delivery to-day.” “Yes.” “And I had one from Bart. Dear Bart! They have been very successful with their lacrosse team, and now they are coming back from their trip.” “And Frank must leave for Mexico in a very few days. He wants me to go with him.” Elsie started a little, and her face seemed to take on an added shade of pallor. “To go with him?” she murmured. “As—as Mrs. Merriwell.” Slowly Elsie lifted one not quite steady hand to her cheek. “I am glad,” she finally said, in a voice that was very low. “You will go with him, Inza?” “Are you ready for the marriage?” “Am I ready?” “Yes, Elsie. I know Bart has urged you. You know it has been our plan to be married together—to have a double marriage. Frank wants it; Bart wants it; I want it. When will you be ready?” Elsie did not reply immediately. It seemed that she was thinking. In truth, she was summoning her strength. “It will be a long time before I am ready, I fear,” she finally answered. “You must not wait for me, Inza.” “Oh, Elsie, that would spoil everything! Oh, we must wait! I shall insist upon it.” Elsie turned and looked into the dark eyes of her companion. “Inza,” she said, “I may not be married for a year—I doubt very much if I shall. I may not be married then. It is not right for you to wait longer. Frank has asked you; he is impatient. Too many times something has arisen to delay your union with him. Through it all your love has been constant and his has never changed.” “Oh, no matter what happened, my love for Frank would remain the same.” “You have been tried as with fire. There is no reason why you should permit anything to longer delay the consummation of your happiness and his. It would not be right to Frank if you did permit anything. You must marry him and go with him to Mexico for your wedding trip.”