“Dr. and Mrs. King and Miss Lottie!” announced Simon’s voice from the doorway, and the three entered.

Lively, cordial greetings followed, especially on the part of the two young girls.  Mrs. Travilla was introduced, and all settled themselves for a chat; Lottie and Elsie, of course, managing to find seats side by side.

“You dearest girl, you have only changed by growing more beautiful than ever,” cried Lottie, squeezing Elsie’s hand which she still held, and gazing admiringly into her face.

Elsie laughed low and musically.

“Precisely what I was thinking of you, Lottie.  It must be your own fault that you are still single.  But we won’t waste time in flattering each other, when we have so much to say that is better worth while.”

“No, surely; Aunt Wealthy has told me of your engagement.”

“That was right; it is no secret, and should not be from you if it were from others.  Lottie, I want you to be one of my bridesmaids.  We’re going to carry Aunt Wealthy off to spend the winter with us, and I shall not be content unless I can do the same by you.’

“A winter in the ‘sunny South!’ and with you; how delightful! you dear, kind creature, to think of it, and to ask me.  Ah, if I only could!”

“I think you can; though of course I know your father and mother must be consulted; and if you come, you will grant my request?”

“Yes, yes indeed! gladly.”

Aunt Chloe, always making herself useful wherever she went, was passing around the room with a pile of plates, Phillis following with cakes and confections, while Simon brought in a waiter with saucers and spoons, and two large moulds of ice cream.

“Will you help the cream, Harry?” said Miss Stanhope.  “There are two kinds, you see, travilla and melon.  Ask Mrs. Vanilla which she’ll have; or if she’ll take both.”

“Mrs. Travilla, may I have the pleasure of helping you to ice cream?” he asked.  “There are two kinds, vanilla and lemon.  Let me give you both.”

“If you please,” she answered, with a slightly amused look; for though Aunt Wealthy had spoken in an undertone, the words had reached her ear.

“Which will you have, dearies?” said the old lady, drawing near the young girls’ corner, “travilla cream or melon?”

“Lemon for me, if you please, Aunt Wealthy,” replied Lottie.

“And I will take Travilla,” Elsie said, low and mischievously, and with a merry twinkle in her eye.

“But you have no cake! your plate is quite empty and useless,” exclaimed the aunt.  “Horace,” turning towards her nephew, who was chatting with the doctor at the other side of the room, “some of this cake is very plain; you don’t object to Elsie eating a little of it?”

“She is quite grown up now, aunt, and can judge for herself in such matters,” he answered smiling, then turned to finish what he had been saying to the doctor.

“You will have some then, dear, won’t you?” Miss Stanhope inquired in her most coaxing tone.