“Well, Titus, if you should ever have a holiday, and would like to enjoy it in the country, you just tell Mr. Merritt—you know him, and you know where he lives—and he will send you to me.” “Yes, ma’am. Thank you, ma’am. That would be too good!” exclaimed the lad, breaking into a broad grin. “Here we are on the landing. Good-by, now, Titus,” said Roma, shaking hands with him as they left the elevator. “Good-by, Titus. Mind, when your holidays come, you are to ask Lawyer Merritt to send you down to Goblin Hall. He’ll do anything for our lady here. I reckon he will marry her some day, and maybe I’ll marry you, Titus, when we grow up,” said Owlet, as she took Roma’s hand and passed into the dining-room. Roma sometimes felt a little shocked at the child’s freedom, and even rudeness, of speech, but she could not yet find it in her heart to rebuke the newly bereaved orphan. She would defer all training until they should reach Goblin Hall, when she would begin it in the spirit of love. “Is there any one else you would like to invite to Goblin Hall, ma’am?” she inquired, with sly humor, as she led Owlet into the dining-room and they sat down at one of the tables. “Of course not,” replied the child, looking at the questioner in grave wonder. “There are Mr. Merritt, Lucy, Tom and Titus. They are enough. We can’t have all the world at Goblin Hall! ‘There is reason in roasting eggs.’” “I stand corrected,” said Roma. “There is Mr. Merritt now!” exclaimed Owlet, as the lawyer came in, and, without any ceremony, took a seat at the same table with them, saying: “Good-morning, my dear. Good-morning, Miss Catherine. I have come to breakfast with you.” “We are very glad to see you, I am sure. Are we not, Owlet?” Roma said, shaking hands with her old friend. “He knows we are. It’s no use telling him,” the child added. “Fact is, Roma, I had no appetite at the early hour at which I ordered the carriage, but thought I should get one by the time I had driven from one end of the city to the other, and I have. Ah! here’s Tom! What have you to serve up to us in the way of new luxuries? Fresh shad, by the powers! And fine strawberries! I am glad I came.” There was no one else in the dining-room at this early hour but our party, so not only could Tom give them his undivided attention, but Lucy came in on every excusable occasion for the sake of seeing and speaking with her own young mistress as often as possible. When breakfast was over the lady and child once more took leave of their colored friends and went out, attended by the lawyer, who placed them in the carriage, where they found their effects placed by the careful hands of Tom. Half an hour’s drive brought them to the Baltimore & Ohio Railway depot, where they found the train for the west almost ready to start. Mr. Merritt saw Roma and Owlet comfortably seated in a drawing-room car, and there took an affectionate leave of them.