“Yes, I regret it, but have no authority to forbid the intimacy.”

“I know; but, papa, you have great influence; he is proud to be known as your nephew; and don’t you think you might be able to induce him to give them up for some better friend; my brother, for instance?  Papa, he is twenty-one now, and are not his principles sufficiently fixed to enable him to lead Cal and Arthur, doing them good instead of being injured by association with them?”

“Yes, you are right; Horace is not one to be easily led, and Calhoun is.  I am glad you have spoken and reminded me of my duty.”

“My dear father, please do not think I was meaning to do that,” she cried, blushing, “it would be stepping out of my place.  But Edward and I have had several talks about Cal of late, and decided that we will make him very welcome here, and try to do him good.  Edward suggested, too, what a good and helpful friend Horace might be to him, if you approved, and I said I would speak to you first, and perhaps to my brother afterward.”

“Quite right.  I think Horace will be very willing.  I should be loth to have him drawn into intimacy with Boyd or Foster, but as he likes neither their conduct nor their principles, I have little fear of that.”

They sauntered about the garden a few moments longer, then rejoined the others, who were still in the library.

The children were romping with each other and Bruno on the veranda without; the merry shouts, the silvery laughter coming pleasantly in through the open windows.

“How happy they seem, Cousin Elsie,” remarked Calhoun, turning to her.

“Yes, they are,” she answered, smiling.  “You are fond of children, Cal?”

“Yes; suppose you let me join them.”

“Suppose we all do,” suggested Mr. Dinsmore, seeing Travilla lay aside his book, and listen with a pleased smile to the glad young voices.

“With all my heart,” said the latter as he rose and led the way, “I find nothing more refreshing after the day’s duties are done, than a romp with my children.”

For the next half hour they were all children together; then Aunt Chloe and Dinah came to take the little ones to bed, and Elsie, after seeing her guests depart, followed to the nursery.

Mr. Dinsmore rode over to Roselands with his nephew, conversing all the way in a most entertaining manner, making no allusion to politics or to Boyd or Foster.

Calhoun was charmed, and when his uncle urged him to visit the Oaks more frequently, observing that he had been there but once since Horace’s return from college, and proposing that he should begin by coming to dinner the next day and staying as long as suited his convenience, the invitation was accepted with alacrity and delight.

On returning home Mr. Dinsmore explained his views and wishes, with regard to Calhoun, to his wife and son, who at once cordially fell in with them in doing all they could to make his visit enjoyable.  In fact, so agreeable did he find it that his stay was prolonged to several days.