“And Lester and Elsie brought that orphan niece of his home with them, I suppose.  I am inclined to be a warm friend to her, Ned; for I know how to feel for a fatherless child.”

“As we all do, I trust.  We are all fatherless, and may well have a fellow-feeling for her.  We will do what we can to make life pleasant to her, and I think from my sister’s report that we shall find her an agreeable addition to the Fairview family.”

Elsie had given to Evelyn quite as agreeable a portraiture of Edward and Zoe as that she had furnished them of her, and the little girl was in some haste to make their acquaintance.

It was as Edward expected.  The five families were very sociable; when all were at home there was a constant interchange of informal visits, and when some of their number returned after a lengthened absence, the others were ready to hail their coming with cordiality and delight:  both of which were intensified on this occasion by the relief from the fear that some accident had happened to Edward and Zoe, inasmuch as they were several hours behind time in reaching home.

On their arrival they found the Lelands, the Lacys, the Dinsmores, and the Conlys gathered in the drawing-room and supper waiting.

“Two hours behind time!  I really am afraid there has been an accident,” Mrs. Lacy was saying, when the welcome sound of wheels called forth a general exclamation, “There they are at last!” and there was a simultaneous exit from the drawing-room into the hall, followed by numerous embraces, welcomes, congratulations, inquiries after health and the causes of detention.

They made a jovial party about the supper-table:  all but Evelyn, who sat silently listening to the exchange of information in regard to the way in which each had passed the summer, and Edward’s and Zoe’s description of the celebration of their Aunt Wealthy’s one hundredth birthday; all mingled with jest, laughter, and merry badinage.

As the child looked and listened, she was, half unconsciously, studying countenances, voices, words, and forming estimates of character.

She had been doing so all the evening; had already decided that the Lacys and Dinsmores were nice people who made her feel happy and at home with them; that she liked Mr. Calhoun Conly and his brother, Dr. Arthur, very much, but detested Ralph; thought Ella silly, proud, and haughty, and that with no excuse for either pride or arrogance.  So now her principal attention was given to the latest arrivals—­Edward and Zoe.

She liked them both; thinking it lovely to see their devotion to each other, and how unconsciously it betrayed itself in looks and tones, now and again, as the talk went on.

At length, as the flow of conversation slacked, Zoe turned to Evelyn, remarking with a winning smile, “What a quiet little mouse you are!  I have been wanting to make your acquaintance, and I hope you will come often to Ion.”