She brought up the rear of the train of servants gathering in the hall to welcome their master and mistress.

A glad welcome it was; for both Lester and Elsie were greatly beloved by their dependents; and Evelyn, too, came in for a share of the hand-shakings, the “God bless yous,” and was assured again and again that she was welcome to Fairview.

“Well, Aunt Kitty, I suppose you have one of your excellent suppers ready for us hungry travelers?” remarked Mr. Leland interrogatively, as he divested himself of his duster.

“I’se done de wery bes’ I knows, sah,” she answered, dropping a courtesy and smiling all over her face.  “Eberyting am done to a turn, an’ I hopes you, sah, and de ladies mos’ ready to eat afo’ de tings get spoiled.”

“We won’t keep your supper waiting many minutes, Aunt Kitty,” said her mistress pleasantly.

“Myra take the baby to the nursery.  Evelyn, my dear, we will go up stairs and I will show you your room.”

Reaching the second floor, Elsie led the way into a spacious, luxuriously-furnished apartment.

“This is your room, Eva,” she said.

“It is just across the hall from your uncle’s and mine; so I hope you will not feel lonely or timid.  But if anything should alarm you at any time, come to our door and call to us.”

“Thank you, dear Aunt Elsie.  Such a beautiful room as it is!” exclaimed Evelyn.  “How very kind you and Uncle Lester are to me!”

There was a little tremble of emotion in the child’s voice as she spoke.

Elsie put her arms lovingly about her.  “Dear child,” she said, “how could we be otherwise?  We want you to feel that this is truly your own home, and to be very happy in it.”

“I could not be so happy with any one else as with you and uncle,” returned the little girl, with a sigh to the memory of the father she had loved so well.

“And to-morrow you shall see what a sweet home this is,” Elsie said, releasing her with a kiss.

“Now we must hasten to make ourselves ready for supper.  A change of dress will not be necessary.  There will be no company tonight, and your uncle would prefer seeing us in our traveling dresses to having his meal spoiled by waiting.”

Evelyn went to sleep that night to the music of the dashing of the rain upon the windows, but woke next morning to find the sun shining brightly in a deep blue sky wherein soft, fleecy white clouds were floating.

She drew aside the window curtain to take a peep at the surroundings of her new home.  Lawn, shrubbery, flower garden, while larger than those at Crag Cottage, were quite as well kept; neatness and order, beauty and fragrance made them so attractive that Evelyn was tempted to a stroll while waiting for the call to breakfast.

She stole softly down the stairs, thinking her aunt and uncle might be still sleeping, but found the latter on the veranda, pacing to and fro with meditative air.