"Thank you, ma'am," they both responded, Max adding, "I am very glad, Grandma Elsie, that I am to live with you and Mamma Vi." "I, too," said Lulu; "and in such a pretty place. Oh, how lovely everything does look!" The air was delightful, and doors and windows stood wide open. On the veranda a welcoming group was gathered. Elsie's brother and sister--Horace Dinsmore, Jr., of the Oaks, and Mrs. Rose Lacey from the Laurels--and her cousins Calhoun and Arthur Conly; while a little in the rear of them were the servants, all--from old Uncle Joe, now in his ninety-fifth year, down to Betty, his ten-year-old great-granddaughter--showing faces full of eager delight. They stood back respectfully till greetings had been exchanged between relatives and friends, then pressed forward with their words of welcome, sure of a shake of the hand and kind word from each member of the family. Mr. Dinsmore held little Gracie in his arms. She was much fatigued and exhausted by the long journey. "Here is a patient for you, Arthur," he said, "and I am very glad you are here to attend to her." "Yes," said Violet, "her father charged me to put her in your care." "Then let her be put immediately to bed," said Arthur, after a moment's scrutiny of the child. "Give her to me, uncle, and I will carry her up-stairs." "To my room," added Violet. But the child shrunk from the stranger, and clung to Mr. Dinsmore. "No, thank you, I will take her up myself," he said. "I am fully equal to it," and he moved on through the hall and up the broad stairway, Violet and the doctor following. The others presently scattered to their rooms to rid themselves of the dust of travel and dress for the evening. "Well, little wife, is it nice to be at home again?" Edward asked, with a smiling look at Zoe, as they entered their apartments. "Yes, indeed!" she cried, sending a swift glance around the neat and tastefully furnished room, "especially such a home, and to be shared with such nice people; one in particular who shall be nameless," she added, with an arch look and smile. "One who hopes you will never tire of his company, as he never expects to of yours," returned Edward, catching her in his arms and snatching a kiss from her full red lips. "Now don't," she said, pushing him away, "just wait till I've washed the dust from my face. Here come our trunks," as two of the men servants brought them in, "and you must tell me what dress to put on." "You look so lovely in any and every one of the dozen or more that I have small choice in the matter," laughed the young husband. "What gross flattery!" she exclaimed. "Well, then, I suppose I'll have to choose for myself. But you mustn't complain if I do that some time when you don't want me to." The two Elsies had lingered a little behind the others--the old servants had so many words of welcome to say to them--the younger one in especial, because she had been so far and so long away.