At that, Elsie’s face dimpled all over with blushes and smiles.

Lucy signed to the nurse to take the babe, and as the woman walked away with it in her arms, turned eagerly to her friend.

“Now do tell me; for I’m sure you are not going to live single.  Shall we have the pleasure of hailing you as duchess yet?”

“No, Lucy; I intend to marry; am actually engaged, but not to a foreigner.”

“Dear me!  I don’t believe I could have resisted the title.  That is,” she added, hastily, “if I’d been heart-whole like you:  but after seeing my Phil, of course I wouldn’t give him up for all the nobles in Europe, Asia, and Africa.  But do tell me who is the fortunate man?”

“Suppose you try your skill at guessing.”

“Perfectly useless, never had any.  It must be somebody I don’t know.”

“My good little woman, you know him well.”

“Either of Harry’s brothers-in-law?  Richard?  Harold?”

“No, no, no; you are wide of the mark!  Could you suppose papa would ever consent to such a mixture of relationships?  Why, it would make papa my brother and mamma’s brother her son-in-law.”

“So it would.  Well, I give it up and beg of you to put a speedy end to my suspense.”

Lucy bent her head to listen, and Elsie murmured the name low and softly, the rose deepening on her cheek as she spoke.  For a moment Lucy seemed struck dumb with astonishment.  Then, “Elsie!” she exclaimed, “I can’t believe it; you are only jesting.”

Elsie shook her head with a low, musical, happy laugh.

“He’s splendid, I don’t deny that; but then—­only think—­your father’s most intimate friend from boyhood up; and almost as old.”

“Some people seem like wine—­to improve with age.  But Mr. Travilla is not old to me now.  He has been standing still, I believe, while I have grown up to him.”

“And you really are in love with him?”

“He has all my heart, all the love I could give to any one, and I respect, honor, and trust him as I do no one else but my father.”

“And that reminds me; I was so afraid your father would not let you come to see me.  But—­you are your own mistress now, of course.”

“Papa tells me so sometimes,” laughed Elsie, “and yet I know he would be greatly surprised should I take the liberty of doing anything he would not approve.  I asked his permission to come, and he not only gave consent but brought me himself.”

“That was good in him; but I hope he won’t hurry you away.  I want to hear about your European conquests, and have ever so much to say besides.”

“No, he has kindly promised me time for a long talk.  Besides, I can ride over any day and supplement it with another.”

Mr. Dinsmore was as good as his word; their chat had lasted more than an hour when his summons came, yet Lucy declared it had not been half long enough, and would not be satisfied to let Elsie go without a promise to come again very soon.