"Don't you send for the doctor?" "Not often now; we did at first, but it is so frequent a visitor that we have learned to manage it ourselves." The sickly season had fairly set in, and more afraid of it than he liked to acknowledge, Mr. Dinsmore hastened his departure, leaving for the East by the next stage. [Illustration] [Illustration] Chapter Twentieth. "I marked the Spring as she pass'd along, With her eye of light and her lip of song; While she stole in peace o'er the green earth's breast, While the streams sprang out from their icy rest. The buds bent low to the breeze's sigh, And their breath went forth in the scented sky; When the fields look'd fresh in their sweet repose, And the young dews slept on the new-born rose." --WILLIS GAYLORD CLARK. "WELL, I'm both glad and sorry Horace is gone," Mrs. Keith remarked with a smile, a sigh and a dewy look about her eyes, as the stage passed out of sight. "I'm fond of the lad, but was troubled lest the ague should get hold of him. Besides, the dearest of guests is something of a burden with sickness in the house and a scarcity of help." "Yes, that is very true, mother," Mildred answered, "and so thoroughly do I realize it that I am wholly and heartily glad he's gone; albeit I liked him much better this time than I did before." Celestia Ann had left months ago, and they had had very indifferent help during Mr. Dinsmore's visit, though fortunately such as they could keep away from the table when their guest was present at it. Mildred went on now to express her satisfaction that such had been the case, adding, "What would he have done if Miss Hunsinger had been here, and in her usual fashion asserted her right to show that she felt herself as good as he or anybody else?" "He'd have annihilated her with a look," laughed Rupert. "He would have acted like the perfect gentleman he is," said Mrs. Keith, "but it would have been exceedingly mortifying to me to have him so insulted at my table; for as he has been brought up, he could not avoid feeling it an insult to be put on a social equality with one so rude and vulgar." "The house feels lonely," said Zillah, "it seems 'most as if Aunt Wealthy had just gone away." "We'll get our sewing and a book," said her mother, "Come all into the sitting-room. Rupert may be the reader this time. "Mildred, you and I will have to be very busy now with the fall sewing." "Yes mother dear; it's a blessing to have plenty of employment. But do you think I shall need to give up my studies for a time?" "No, daughter, I hope not. I want you to go on with them; Mr. Lord says you are doing so nicely. Your cousin, too, told me he thought you were getting a better--more thorough--education with him, than you would be likely to in any school for girls that he knows of."