Mr. Dinsmore stood looking on highly gratified, and coming in for a share of the thanks.

An hour or two later, Elsie’s little pony, and her father’s larger but equally beautiful steed, were brought up to the door, and they rode down to the quarter, followed by Jim and Bill, each carrying a good-sized basket; and there a very similar scene was gone through with—­Elsie finishing up the business by showering sugar-plums into the outstretched aprons of the little ones, laughing merrily at their eagerness, and highly enjoying their delight.

She half wished for an instant, as she turned her horse’s head to ride away again, that she was one of them, so much did she want a share of the candy, which her father refused to let her taste, saying it was not fit for her when she was well, and much less now while she had yet hardly recovered from severe illness.

But it was a lovely morning, the air pure and bracing, and everything else was speedily forgotten in the pleasure of a brisk ride with her father.  They rode several miles, and on their return were overtaken by Mr. Travilla, who remarked that Elsie had quite a color, and was looking more like herself than he had seen her since her sickness.  He was on horseback, and his mother arrived a little later in the carriage, having called at Roselands on the way, and picked up Adelaide.  Lora did not come, as she had accepted an invitation to spend the holidays at Mr. Howard’s, where a little girl about her own age, a cousin of Carry’s, from the North, was spending the winter.

Mr. Travilla put a beautiful little pearl ring on Elsie’s finger, which she gracefully thanked him for, and then showing it to her father, “See, papa,” she said, “how nicely it matches the bracelets.”

“Yes, daughter, it is very pretty,” he replied, “and one of these days, when you are old enough to wear it, you shall have a pin to match.”

Mrs. Travilla and Adelaide each gave her a handsome book—­Adelaide’s was a beautifully bound Bible—­and Elsie was delighted with all her presents, and thought no little girl could be richer in Christmas gifts than herself.

The day passed very pleasantly, for they were quite like a family party, every one seeming to feel perfectly at home and at ease.

The negroes were to have a grand dinner at the quarter, and Elsie, who had been deeply interested in the preparations—­cake-baking, etc.—­was now very anxious to see them enjoying their feast; so about one o’clock she and her father invited their guests to walk down there with them to enjoy the sight.

“I, for one, would like nothing better,” said Mr. Travilla, offering his arm to Adelaide, while Mr. Dinsmore took Mrs. Travilla, Elsie walking on the other side and keeping fast hold of his hand.

They found it a very merry scene; and the actors in it scarcely enjoyed it more than the spectators.

Their own dinner was served up somewhat later in the day, and with appetites rendered keen by their walk in the bracing air, they were ready to do it full justice.