“Yes,” said Zoe.  “I hope you feel ready to do justice to your meal?”

As they seated themselves at the table, Zoe, glancing toward Edward’s vacant chair, remarked, with a sigh, that it seemed very lonely to sit down without him.

“Well, now,” said Ella, “I think it’s quite nice to take a meal occasionally without the presence of anybody of the masculine gender.”

“Perhaps that is because you have never been married,” said Zoe.

“Perhaps so,” returned her cousin, laughing; “yet I don’t think that can be all that ails me, for I have heard married women express the same opinion quite frequently.  What shall we do with ourselves to-day, Zoe?  I’ve no notion of devoting myself exclusively to Miss Deane’s entertainment, especially if she is really as cross as reported.”

“No, indeed!  I couldn’t bear to let you, even if you were willing,” replied Zoe with decision.  “I consented to your taking my place in that, only because I supposed you found her agreeable; while to me she is any thing else.”

“Suppose we call on her together, after a little, and let the length of our stay depend upon the enjoyment our presence seems to afford her,” suggested Ella.

“Agreed,” said Zoe.  “Then I will supply her with plenty of reading-matter, which, as she professes to be so very intellectual, ought to entertain her far better than we can.  Shall we ride after that?”

“Yes, and take a promenade on the verandas.  We’ll have to take our exercise in those ways, as the roads are not yet fit for walking.”

“Yes,” said Zoe; “but I hope that by afternoon they will be good enough for driving; as I mean to drive over to the depot to meet the late train, hoping to find Ned on it.”

“Don’t expect him till to-morrow,” said Ella.

“Why not?” queried Zoe, looking as if she could hardly endure the thought.

“Because, in that case, your disappointment, if you have one, will be agreeable.”

“Yes; but, on the other hand, I should lose all the enjoyment of looking forward through the whole day, to seeing him this evening.  Following your plan, I shouldn’t have half so happy a day as if I keep to my own.”

“Ah! that’s an entirely new view of the case,” Ella said in her merry, laughing tones.

Miss Deane did not seem to enjoy their society, and they soon withdrew from her room; Zoe having done all in her power to provide her with every comfort and amusement available in her case.

“I’m glad that’s over,” sighed Zoe, when they were alone again.  “And now for our ride, if you are ready, Ella.  I ordered my pony for myself, and mamma’s for you; and I see they are at the door.”

“Then let us don our riding-habits, and be off at once,” said Ella.

“Where are we going?” she asked, as they cantered down the avenue.

“To the village, if you like.  I want to call at the post-office.”