Now, after seeing them, the next thing was to make them see Mosswood; and many were the consultations Maggie and Esther had already held over plans and means. Nothing could be settled after all till the guests came. And when they came, the whole first evening was spent in joyous talk and recollections. But the next morning before breakfast Maggie and Meredith met at the house door. Meredith had been out walking. "How do you like it?" she asked daringly, clasping his hand, while her eyes looked love and pleasure hard into his face. "It is the most beautiful place I ever saw in my life!" "And it is such a nice day," said Maggie gleefully. "What shall we do to-day?" "Let us be out of doors!" "Oh yes, we'll be out of doors," said Maggie; "but where shall we go?" "Nowhere out of Mosswood--if you ask me. I don't want anything else." "Well, Mosswood is pretty good," said Maggie, "because, when you are at Mosswood you have the hills and the river and all, _besides_ Mosswood, you know--O Meredith! I have thought of something!" "I dare say," Meredith answered smiling. "That is quite in your way." "This is something nice. Suppose we go out and have dinner in the woods?" "I should say it was a capital plan." "We used to do that in old times, before ever we went away. And we have got a nice little cart, Meredith, to carry our dinner, and whatever we want; and--Oh, it's nice! it's nice!" exclaimed Maggie, jumping on her toes for delight. "I'm _so_ glad you're here! and I'm _so_ glad to go into the woods again to dinner." "We want only one thing," said Meredith. "What's that?" "Mr. Murray." "Uncle Eden! I'll write to him." "Let us all write to him. Every one put in something. That will bring him, maybe." "Yes, that will bring him!" Maggie echoed; and I do not believe that for the rest of the morning she took another flat step. On her toes, was the only way that her spirits could go. The first thing after breakfast was the Round Robin to Uncle Eden. Maggie began it, as the youngest. "DEAR UNCLE EDEN,--Flora and Meredith are here while mamma and papa are gone to California. We are going out in the woods to dinner; and we all want you. Do please come, if you can get away from Bay House. We want you as much as anybody can be wanted. "MAGGIE." Then Esther wrote-- "DEAR UNCLE EDEN,--It is quite true. We do all want you very much. Fenton is coming, and I am afraid nobody will keep him in order, if you are not here. "ESTHER." Then Flora-- "I think we would all be very glad to see Mr. Murray. I am sure one sincerely glad would be "FLORA FRANKLIN." Last, Meredith--