“Ah, good morning, little maid!” he said in a kindly tone.  “I hope you slept well and feel refreshed?”

“Yes, uncle, thank you,” she returned.  “Don’t you enjoy being at home again after your long absence?”

“I do, indeed!” he answered; “there is no place like home, is there?  This is your home, too, now, Eva.”

“Yes, sir,” a little sadly.  “You and Aunt Elsie are home to me now, almost as papa used to be in the dear old days; and perhaps I shall learn to love Fairview as well as I do Crag Cottage.  May I go into the garden, uncle?”

“Yes, I will take you with pleasure.  Your shoes are thick I see,” glancing down at them, “and that is well; for the walks may be a little damp.”

He led her about, calling her attention to one and another rare plant or flower in garden and green-house, and gathering a bouquet of beautiful and fragrant blossoms for her, then one for his wife.

Elsie joined them on the veranda as they came in at the summons to breakfast, and Lester presented his flowers, claiming a kiss in return.

“Help yourself,” she said laughingly; “and many thanks for your flowers.  And now shall we go in to breakfast? we are a little late this morning.”

“Ah, our mail is already here, I see,” Lester remarked, as they entered the breakfast-room.  “I will open the bag while you pour the coffee, my dear, hoping to find a letter for each of us.”

“I think there should be one for me,” remarked Evelyn, watching her uncle with wistful, longing eyes as he took out the letters and glanced over the addresses; “for I have heard but once from mamma since she went away.”

“Twice now,” her uncle said with a pleased smile, as he handed her the longed-for missive.

“You, too, hear from your mother this morning, my dear; and from several other friends.  Here, Jane,” to the servant girl in waiting, “hand these to your mistress.”

“And here is a cup of coffee to reward you; mamma’s letter alone is worth it,” responded Elsie gaily, lifting the letters from the silver waiter on which they lay, and setting there, in their stead, a delicate china cup from whose steaming contents a delicious aroma greeted the nostrils.

“I must just peep into mamma’s to see when we may expect them home,” she added, breaking open its envelope; “the rest will keep till after breakfast.”

“When was Aunt Wealthy’s birthday?” queried her husband.

“Yesterday,” she answered with her eyes on the letter.  “Ah!  Ned and Zoe start this morning for home.  The rest will stay a week or so longer, and our cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Keith, and their daughter, Annis, will soon follow with the expectation of spending the winter as mamma’s guests.”

“Will you excuse me, Aunt Elsie, if I open my letter now just for a peep?” asked Evelyn with a slight shy smile.

“No, my dear, certainly not; as I never do the like myself, but always wait patiently till the meal is over,” returned the young aunt with playful irony.