'I wish we lived in a warmer country,' said Rose; 'perhaps then you might get better.'
'I do not know about living,' replied Willy. 'England is the best country to live in; but I certainly should like to be out of the way of the cold for this next winter.'
'Why do not you tell Papa so?' asked Rose.
'Because I know very well he would take me a journey directly, however inconvenient it might be to him.'
Rose said nothing more just then, but she took the first opportunity of telling her father what had passed; and he said he was very glad indeed that she had let him know.
From that day forward something more than usual seemed in contemplation. Papa, Mama, and Margaret were constantly consulting together, and Edward, Rose, and Willy followed their example. As for me, nobody had time to bestow a look or a thought upon me; but I made myself happy by looking at and thinking of them.
One morning two doctors together paid Willy a long visit. After they were gone, his Papa and Mama came into his room.
'Well, my boy,' his father exclaimed in an unusually cheerful tone, 'it is quite settled now; Madeira is the place, and I hope you like the plan.'
'Oh, Papa,' said Willy, 'is it really worth while?'
'Of course it is worth while, a hundred times over,' replied his father; 'and we will be off in the first ship.'