He complied, then bent over her with a look of concern.  “I should not have brought her in,” he said anxiously; “it has been too much for you.”

“But I wanted so to see her delight.  One more kiss, papa, before you go, and then I’ll try to sleep.”

Elsie did not recover so speedily and entirely as before, after the birth of her first babe; and those to whom she was so dear grew anxious and troubled about her.

“You want change, daughter,” Mr. Dinsmore said, coming in one morning and finding her lying pale and languid on a sofa; “and we are all longing to have you at home.  Do you feel equal to a drive over to the Oaks?”

“I think I do, papa,” she answered, brightening.  “Edward took me for a short drive yesterday, and I felt better for it.”

“Then, dearest, come home to your father’s house and stay there as long as you can; bring babies and nurses and come.  Your own suite of rooms is quite ready for you,” he said, caressing her tenderly.

“Ah, papa, how nice to go back and feel at home in my own father’s house again,” she said, softly stroking his head with her thin white hand as he bent over her, the sweet soft eyes, gazing full into his, brimming over with love and joy.  “I shall go, if Edward doesn’t object.  I’d like to start this minute.  But you haven’t told me how poor mamma is to-day?”

“Not well, not very much stronger than you are, I fear,” he answered, with a slight sigh.  “But your coming will do her a world of good.  Where is Travilla?”

“Here, and quite at your service,” replied Mr. Travilla’s cheery voice, as he came in from the garden with his little daughter in his arms.

He set her down, and while he exchanged greetings with Mr. Dinsmore, she ran to her mother with a bouquet of lovely sweet-scented spring blossoms they had been gathering “for mamma.”

“Thank you, mother’s darling,” Elsie said, accepting the gift and tenderly caressing the giver; “you and papa, too.  But see who is here?”

The child turned to look, and with a joyous cry “G’anpa!” ran into his outstretched arms.

“Grandpa’s own wee pet,” he said, hugging the little form close and covering the baby face with kisses.  “Will you come and live with grandpa in his home for awhile?”

“Mamma? papa too?” she asked, turning a wistful look on them.

“Oh, yes; yes indeed, mamma and papa too.”

“Baby?”

“Yes, baby and mammies and all.  Will you come?”

“May Elsie, mamma?”

“Yes, pet; we will all go, if your papa is willing.”  And her soft eyes sought her husband’s face with a look of love and confidence that said she well knew he would never deny her any good in his power to bestow.

“I have been proposing to my daughter to take possession again, for as long a time as she finds it convenient and agreeable, of her old suite of rooms at the Oaks.  I think the change would do her good, and perhaps you and the little ones also,” Mr. Dinsmore explained.