“Absurd! I am in good health and good spirits—that is the whole secret,” said Miss Rosenthal, laughing and blushing, and breaking away from the too ardent admiration of Elfie. And at that moment the first bevy of visitors arrived, and little Mim and his four little maiden aunts were shown into the drawing-room. Erminie received her visitors with courtesy, but Elfie welcomed them with effusion. Erminie entertained Mr. Mim in the drawing-room, while Elfie took the four Misses Mim up stairs to lay off their bonnets and put on their head dresses. The next party that arrived consisted of Mr. Billingcoo, his grandmother, and his guitar. And the old lady was shown up stairs to the dressing-room where she found the Misses Mim with Elfie. After them came other friends of the family; and by seven o’clock the whole company was assembled, and enjoying themselves by sauntering through the moonlit walks of the beautiful grounds in the rear of the house. “I am expecting Major Fielding this evening,” said Erminie to little Mim, who was walking by her side. “I am so glad to hear that. I always had the greatest respect for Major Fielding, as well as for—for his daughter—and for all the ladies!” Little Mim, whenever he was betrayed into any expression of admiration or regard for Elfie, invariably added “all the ladies” as a saving clause. Now, however, though he walked and talked with Erminie, his eyes and his thoughts followed Elfie as she sauntered on in front of them by the side of Dr. Sales. “They both reciprocate your regard, I am very sure,” said Erminie, kindly. “Miss Rosenthal,” said the little fellow solemnly, “when I learned all in a moment that she was married and widowed, you might have floored me with a feather. I beg your pardon for using a slang phrase, but there is nothing that can so well express the effect the news had upon me. And even now I can’t seem to get over it. And when I think of what she used to be, and look at her now in her widow’s dress, it seems as if I could not recognize her for herself. It is just as if some splendid oriole was suddenly changed into a blackbird,” he said, with a profound sigh. “The mere effect of her dress, Mr. Mim. Elfie is still herself. Naturally, she grieved over the tragic death of Albert Goldsborough, yet not so bitterly as she had grieved over the treason that separated them as lovers three years ago. It was then that the iron entered the soul of Elfie. But she has been stronger ever since.” “She is a heroic girl!—And so are all the ladies!” answered little Mim, tempering enthusiasm with prudence. “Well! Well! Where are you all? And who is coming to welcome me?” called out the cheery voice of Major Fielding, issuing from the back porch of the house. With a cry of joy, Elfie dropped the arm of Dr. Sales, turned and sprang past all her friends, and darted up the gravel walk to meet her father, and threw herself into his arms. Erminie followed her to welcome the veteran.