“Such nonsense!” muttered Virginia.

“Such prudence and forethought, I should say,” laughed her sister.

A few days after this Isadore was calling at Ion and in the course of conversation Mrs. Travilla remarked, with concern, “Virginia looks really unhappy of late.  Is her trouble anything it would be in my power to relieve?”

“No; unless she would listen to good counsel from you.  It is really nothing serious; and yet I suppose it seems so to her.  I’m almost ashamed to tell you, cousin, but as far as I can learn it is nothing in the world but the fear of old-maidenhood,” Isa answered, half laughing.

Elsie smiled.

“Tell her from me that there is plenty of time yet.  She is two or three years younger than I was when I married, and,” she added with a bright, happy look, “I have never thought I lost anything by waiting.”

“I’m sure you didn’t, mamma,” said Violet, who was present.  “But how very odd of Virgy to trouble about that!  I’m glad people don’t have to marry, because I shall never, never be willing to leave my dear home, and my father and mother.  Especially not to live with some stranger.”

“I hope it may be some years before you change your mind in regard to that,” her mother responded with a loving look.

Elsie was not bringing up her daughters to consider marriage the chief end of woman; she had, indeed, said scarcely anything on the subject till her eldest was of an age to begin to mix a little in general society; then she talked quietly and seriously to them of the duties and responsibilities of the married state and the vast importance of making a wise choice in selecting a partner for life.

In their childhood she had never allowed them to be teased about beaux.  She could not prevent their hearing, occasionally, something of the kind, but she did her best to counteract the evil influence, and had succeeded so well in that, and in making home a delight, that her children one and all, shunned the thought of leaving it, and her girls were as easy and free from self-consciousness in the society of gentlemen as in that of ladies; never bold or forward; there was nothing in their manner that could give the slightest encouragement to undue familiarity.

And then both she and their father had so entwined themselves about the hearts of their offspring, that all shared the feeling expressed by Violet, and truly believed that nothing less than death could ever separate them from these beloved parents.

There was a good deal to bring the subject of marriage prominently before their minds just at present, for the event of the winter was the bringing home of a wife by their Uncle Horace, and “Aunt Rosie” was to be married in the ensuing spring.

The approaching Centennial was another topic of absorbing interest.

That they might reap the full benefit of the great Exhibition, they went North earlier than usual, the middle of May finding them in quiet occupancy of a large, handsome, elegantly furnished mansion in the vicinity of the Park.