A glad welcome awaited them there.  As they rounded to at the little pier they could see a crowd of relatives and retainers gathered beside it, watching and waiting with faces full of joyous eagerness.

And as the voyagers stepped ashore what affectionate embraces, what glad greetings were exchanged!

Cyril and Isa Keith were there with their two little ones; Dick Percival, Bob and Betty Johnson—­and could it be possible? was that Molly Embury, on her feet, standing by Mr. Embury’s side and leaning only slightly on his arm?

Yes, it can be no other; and—­oh, wonder of wonders!—­she comes nearer, actually walking upon the feet that no one thought would ever again be able to bear her weight.

How they gathered about her with exclamations of astonishment and delight, and question upon question as to the means by which this wondrous change had been wrought!

And with what tears of joy and thankfulness, and in tones how tremulous with deep gratitude, she and her husband told of the experiments of a rising young surgeon which, by the blessing of God, had resulted in this astonishing cure!

“Oh, Uncle Horace, Aunt Rose, Cousin Elsie,” Molly exclaimed, glancing from one to the other, “I think I am surely the happiest woman in the world, and the one who has the greatest reason for thankfulness!  See, here is another precious treasure the Lord has sent me in addition to the many I had before;” and turning, she beckoned to a middle-aged colored woman standing a little in their rear, who immediately came forward bearing an infant of a few weeks in her arms.

“My Elsie, named for you, dear cousin,” Molly said, taking the child and holding it proudly up to view.  “I only hope she may, if God spares her life, grow up to be as dear and sweet and good, as kind and true and loving, as she whose name she bears.”

“The darling!” Elsie said, bending down to press a kiss on the velvet cheek of her tiny namesake.  “And how kind in you, Molly, to name her for me!  Oh, it makes me so happy to see you able to move about, and with this new treasure added to your store!”

The others added their congratulations; and Mr. Embury remarked, with a happy laugh, “Molly certainly thinks there was never another baby quite equal to hers in any respect.”

“Which is very natural,” said Mrs. Dinsmore.  “I remember having some such idea about my own first baby.”

The Ion children were allowed a few days of entire liberty to roam about and make themselves fully acquainted with the beauties of Viamede, Magnolia Hall, and the neighborhood before beginning school duties.

Meanwhile their elders had visited Oakdale Academy and made the acquaintance of Prof.  Silas Manton, his wife and two daughters,—­Miss Diana and Miss Emily,—­who, with Signor Foresti, music-master, and M. Saurin, instructor in French, formed the corps of teachers belonging to the institution.