“I shall go and nurse Tom: he needs _me_, doctor, and I believe I need _him_; that is, I yearn after that old companionship which made all my life till I came here--Come now, don't oppose this plan; it is only by your hearty aid it can ever be carried out. When you have told grandpapa that the thought is a good one, the battle will be more than half won. You see yourself I ought not to be here.” “Certainly not here with Mrs. Sewell; but there comes the grave difficulty of how you are to be lodged and cared for in that wild country where your brother lives?” “My dear doctor, I have never known pampering till I came here. Our life at home--and was it not happy!--was of the very simplest. To go back again to the same humble ways will be like a renewal of the happy past; and then Tom and I suit each other so well,--our very caprices are kindred. Do say you like this notion, and tell me you will forward it.” “The very journey is an immense difficulty.” “Not a bit, doctor; I have planned it all. From this to Marseilles is easy enough,--only forty hours; once there, I either go direct to Cagliari, or catch the Sardinian steamer at Genoa--” “You talk of these places as if they were all old acquaintances; but, my dear child, only fancy yourself alone in a foreign city. I don't speak of the difficulties of a new language.” “You might, though, my dear doctor. My French and Italian, which carry me on pleasantly enough with Racine and Ariosto, will expose me sadly with my 'commissionnaire.'” “But quite alone you cannot go,--that's certain.” “I must not take a maid, that's as certain; Tom would only send us both back again. If you insist, and if grandpapa insists upon it, I will take old Nicholas. He thinks it a great hardship that he has not been carried away over seas to see the great world; and all his whims and tempers that tortured us as children will only amuse us now; his very tyranny will be good fun.” “I declare frankly,” said the doctor, laughing, “I do not see how the difficulties of foreign travel are to be lessened by the presence of old Nicholas; but are you serious in all this?” “Perfectly serious, and fully determined on it, if I be permitted.” “When would you go?” “At once! I mean as soon as possible. The Sewells are to be here on Saturday. I would leave on Friday evening by the mail-train from London. I would telegraph to Tom to say on what day he might expect me.” “To-day is Tuesday; is it possible you could be ready?” “I would start to-night, doctor, if you only obtain my leave.” “It is all a matter of the merest chance how your grandfather will take it,” said Beattie, musing. “But _you_ approve? tell me you approve of it.”