"All doing their best to fill him with conceit," he said, returning the smile, but with a warning shake of the head. "Where are Elsie and Ned?" he asked, adding, "It is about time we were returning home--to Viamede." "Yes," said Violet, "we must hunt them up at once." "I will find them, papa and mamma," Grace answered, hastening from the room. The children were playing games on the lawn, but all ceased and came running to Grace as she stepped out upon the veranda and called in musical tones to her little sister and brother. "What is it?" they asked as they drew near, "time to go home?" "Yes; so papa and mamma think; and we must always do what they say, you know." "Yes, indeed!" answered Elsie, "and it's just a pleasure because they always know best and are so kind and love us so dearly." "We've been having an elegant time and it's just lovely here at Torriswood," said little Elsie Embury, "but as it is Uncle Dick's place we can come here often; and besides Viamede is quite as pretty, and we are to go there for the rest of the day." "Oh, yes! aren't you glad?" responded several other young voices. The carriages which had brought them were now seen to be in preparation to convey them to that desired destination, and presently one after another received its quota and departed. One three-seated vehicle contained Mrs. Travilla, her father and his wife, Captain and Mrs. Raymond and their little boy and girl. Naturally the talk ran upon the scenes through which they had just been passing. "It was right odd that Eva and Lu should have caught that bridal bouquet together," laughed Violet. "My dear, does it not make you tremble with apprehension lest those two weddings should take place somewhat sooner than you wish?" "I cannot say that I am greatly alarmed," the captain returned pleasantly. "I have too much confidence in the affection and desire to please their father of my eldest son and daughter, to greatly fear that they will disregard my wishes and opinion in reference to that, or anything else indeed." "And I feel very sure that your confidence is not misplaced," said Mrs. Travilla. "Also I think you are wise in wishing them--young as they are--to defer marriage for a few years." Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore expressed a hearty agreement in that opinion, and Violet said it was hers also. "But I could see," she added with playful look and tone, "that the lovers were both pleased and elated. However, it is not supposed to mean speedy matrimony, but merely that they will be the first of those engaged in the sport to enter into it." "Yes," Captain Raymond said laughingly, "and I have known of one case in which the successful catcher--though the first of the competitors to enter into the bonds of matrimony--did not do so until six years afterward. So, naturally, I am not greatly alarmed."