"Not she! I never had the good fortune to be one of her favorites." "Well, Isa can't say that, for she's certainly doing the handsome thing by her." "What?" "So mother hasn't told you? She's promised that the day Isa marries her cousin, Cyril Keith, she'll hand over twenty-five thousand dollars to them." "That was to get mamma's consent. Mamma, I wouldn't be bought if I were you," Virginia said scornfully. "You wouldn't?" laughed Walter. "I tell you you'd sell yourself to-day to any man worth half a million, or even something less." "Walter, you are perfectly insulting," cried Virginia, her eyes flashing and her cheek flushing hotly. "I wish your furlough ended to-day." "Thank you, my very affectionate sister," he said, bowing low as he stood before her. "Why don't you wish I'd get shot in the next fight with the Indians? Well, I'll tell you what it is," he went on presently, "if I were one of Cousin Elsie's children--Ed, for instance--I'd enter a pretty strong protest against these wholesale acts of benevolence toward poor relations." "She can afford it," said his mother loftily, "and I must say I should have a much higher appreciation of her generosity if she had given Isa the money without any conditions attached." "But Isa wouldn't, or I greatly mistake." "Do you mean to say you think there has been a conspiracy between them?" demanded his mother, growing very red and angry. "No, no, mother, nothing of the kind! but Cousin Elsie is a woman of keen observation, delicate tact and great discernment; and she had Isa's happiness much at heart." "Really," she sneered, "I have but just made the delightful discovery that I have a Solomon among my sons!" "I think it was mean not to invite us to the wedding," said Virginia. "No; that was right enough," corrected her mother; "being in deep mourning for her husband, she could not, of course, give Molly anything but the quietest sort of wedding." "Well, Isa will come home to be married?" "Of course; and I shall insist upon time to have everything done properly and without any one being hurried to death." Immediately upon the reception of Mrs. Conly's letter giving consent to the match between her daughter and Cyril Keith, the work of adding to, repairing and improving the cottage destined to be the future home of the young couple was begun. It was a matter of great interest, not to Cyril and Isa alone, but to the whole family of Dinsmores and Travillas; and their departure from Viamede was delayed some weeks that Elsie and her father and grandfather might oversee and direct the workmen. It was going to be a really commodious and beautiful residence when completed. Elsie determined that it should be prettily furnished, too, and found great pleasure in planning for the comfort and enjoyment of these cousins.