“Then I’ll have to ask uncle or do it without permission,” said Evelyn, blushing and laughing.

“Hark to the answer coming from the chicken yard,” said her uncle facetiously, as the loud crow of a cock broke in upon their talk.

“I fail to catch your meaning, uncle,” said Evelyn, with another blush and smile.

“Listen!” he answered, “he will speak again presently, and tell me if he doesn’t say, ‘Mistress rules here.’  Some one has so interpreted it, and, I think, correctly.

“Oh,” exclaimed Evelyn, laughing; “then, of course, it is of no use to appeal from auntie’s decisions.”

“No, even I generally do as I am bid,” he remarked gravely.

“And I almost always,” said Elsie.  “Eva, would you like to drive over to Ion with me this morning?”

“Very much indeed, Aunt Elsie,” was the prompt and pleased reply.

“Mamma wishes me to carry the news of the expected arrival of my brother and his wife, and to see that all is in order for their reception,” Elsie went on.

“And am I to be entirely neglected in your invitation?” asked her husband, in a tone of deep pretended disappointment and chagrin.

“Your company will be most acceptable, Mr. Leland, if you will favor us with it,” was the gay rejoinder.  “Baby shall go, too; an airing will do him good; and beside, mammy will want to see him.”

“Of course; for she looks upon him as a sort of great-grand child, does she not?” said Lester.

“Either that or great-great,” returned Elsie lightly.

“Who is mammy?” asked Evelyn.

“Mamma’s old nurse, who had the care of her from her birth—­indeed, and of her mother also—­and has nursed each one of us in turn.  Of course, we are all devotedly attached to her and she to us.  Aunt Chloe is what she is called by those who are not her nurslings.”

“She must be very, very old, I should think,” observed Evelyn.

“She is,” said Elsie, and very infirm.  No one knows her exact age, but she cannot be much, if any younger than Aunt Wealthy, who has just passed her hundredth birthday; and I believe her to be, in fact, somewhat older.”

“How I should like to see her!” exclaimed Evelyn.

“I hope to give you that pleasure to-day,” responded Elsie.  “Until very recently she always accompanied mamma—­no, I mistake; she staid behind once; it was when Lilly was taken North as a last hope of saving her dear life.  Papa and mamma thought best to take me and the baby along, and to leave mammy behind in charge of the other children.

“This summer she was too feeble to leave Ion; so we shall find her there.  In deep sorrow too, no doubt; for her old husband, Uncle Joe, died a few weeks since.”

“Eva must hear their story one of these days,” remarked Mr. Leland; “it is very interesting.”

“Yes; and some of it very sad; that which occurred before mamma’s visit to Viamede, after she had attained her majority.  That visit was the dawn of brighter days to them.  I will tell you the whole story, Eva, some time when we are sitting quietly together at our needlework, if you will remind me.”