"Mamma," asked Elsie, bringing up the rear as they entered the sitting-room, "can't you go, too--you and Aunt Adelaide? Four make as nice a party as two, and the babies can be driven over quite safely, with their mammies, to take care of them." "No," said Rose, "I never accept such late invitations; I shall----" "My dear," said her husband, "we would be very glad." "No, no; the first arrangement is decidedly the best;" putting on an air of pretended pique. "Babies! do you call me a baby?" cried young Horace, who had sprung to his feet with a flash of indignation in his great black eyes, "I'm nine years old, Elsie. Rosie there's the only baby belonging to this house. Do you think papa would let a baby have a pony like Gip? and a pistol of his own, too?" Elsie put her arms round his neck, and gave him a kiss, "I beg ten thousand pardons." "Elsie, my daughter, don't allow yourself to speak so extravagantly," interrupted her father. "I will try not, papa," she answered. "I beg your pardon, Horace dear, and assure you I think you are quite a manly young man. Now I must prepare for my ride, papa. I shall be ready by the time the horses can be brought to the door." "Papa," said Horace, as the door closed upon his sister, "may I ride Gip to-day?" "If you promise me to keep close beside the carriage." "Oh, papa, can't I ride on ahead a little, now and then, or fall a few paces behind if I wish?" "No; you may do just what I have given permission for, and nothing else." CHAPTER FOURTH. "Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, In ev'ry gesture, dignity and love." --MILTON'S PARADISE LOST. "But, Elsie, what of Mr. Travilla?" asked her father, as he handed her into the saddle. "He will not be here till evening, sir," she answered, the rose on her cheek deepening slightly. "Then I can have undisturbed possession for to-day at least," replied Mr. Dinsmore, mounting. "We couldn't have a lovelier day for a ride." "Nor better company," added Elsie, archly, keeping her horse's head on a line with that of her father's larger Steed, as they followed the winding carriage road at a brisk canter. "Why, you conceited little puss?" returned Mr. Dinsmore laughing. Elsie blushed more deeply this time. "Why, papa, you are the company to-day, are you not? I wished to go, and you kindly arranged to accompany me." "Ah! and that is how you look at it? Well, I recall my rebuke, and thank you for your--what shall I say--pretty compliment, or appreciation of my society?" "Both, if you like. Oh, how nice it is to be at home again in our own dear native land." "And what do you call your own dear native land?" "What a strange question, papa! The great, grand old Union to be sure--North and South, East and West--is it not all mine? Have you not taught me so yourself?" "Yes," he said musingly. They rode on in silence for some minutes, and when he spoke again, it was upon a subject entirely foreign to the last.