"It was my _mother's_ name!" was the low reply. Elle put up her lips for a kiss. She saw a pained look flit over the countenance of the visitor, and administered the only panacea she possessed. "Is she your sister's oldest child?" asked Ida, repaying the caress. "Yes. She has two younger; a boy and a girl. The babe is my namesake." "My brother is named Charles Arthur; after uncle Charley and uncle Arthur," ventured Elle. "And you love him very dearly,--do you not?" said Ida. "Yes ma'am; I love papa and mamma, and aunt Carry, and uncle Charley, and uncle Arthur, and grandpa, and sister and brother," said the child, running over the names with a volubility that showed how used she was to the repetition. "Will you love me too?" asked Ida. The anxiety with which she awaited the reply will not be sneered at by those who have been, like her, starvelings in affection. "Yes, you too, but I don't know what to call you." "My name is Ida." "Miss Ida, or cousin Ida?" "Cousin!" exclaimed Ida, catching at the word. "Call me cousin!" "Elle claims as relatives, all whom she loves," observed Carry; "and we encourage her in the practice. Miss is formal; and the absence of any such prefix gives a disrespectful air to a child's address." "She speaks of her uncles. Have you brothers?" "She alludes to Mr. Dana's brothers," said Carry, with a slight blush, which Ida remembered afterwards. "They were wards of my father's; and we regard them as a part of the family." Ida amused herself by coaxing forth Elle's prattle; and related, as reward for her sociability, a marvellous fairy tale, which expanded her eyes to their utmost circle, and interested even Carry. Mrs. Dana entered at the finale. "Papa has come, Elle, and would be happy to see Miss Ross. Tea is ready, too. I hope she has not annoyed you,"--to Ida. "Annoyed! oh no, ma'am! we are good friends, and have had a nice talk, have we not, darling?" Playing with a child is a very puerile amusement--what room is there for the exercise of the reasoning faculties; what opportunity for gaining new views of the world or of truth? Still Ida was happier, and she was silly enough to think, wiser. A germ was set, which should be developed by and by.