Hugh Lilburn and Herbert Carrington both regarded her with covetous eyes, and both asked permission of her father to pay their addresses, but received the same answer;—­that she was too young yet to be approached on that subject.

“Well, Mr. Travilla, if you say that to every one, as no doubt you do, I’m willing to wait,” said Herbert going off tolerably contented.

But Hugh, reddening with the sudden recollection that Violet was an heiress, and his portion a very moderate one, stammered out something about hoping he was not mistaken for a fortune hunter, and that he would make no effort to win her until he was in circumstances to do so with propriety.

“My dear fellow,” said Mr. Travilla, “do not for a moment imagine that has anything to do with my refusal.  I do not care to find rich husbands for my daughters, and were Violet of proper age, should have but one objection to you as a suitor; that you would be likely to carry her far away from us.”

“No, no, sir, I wouldn’t!” exclaimed the lad warmly.  “I like America, and think I shall settle here.  And sir, I thank you most heartily for your kind words.  But, as I’ve said, I won’t ask again till I can do so with propriety.”

Leland, too, admired Violet extremely, and loved her with brotherly affection; but it was Elsie who had won his heart.

But he had never whispered a word of this to her, or to any human creature, for he was both poor and proud, and had firmly resolved not to seek her hand until his art should bring him fame and fortune to lay at her feet.

Similar considerations alone held Malcom Lilburn back, and each was tortured with the fear that the other would prove a successful rival.

Philip Ross, too, was waiting to grow rich, but feared no rival in the meantime; so satisfied was he that no one could be so attractive to Elsie as himself.

“She’s waiting for me,” he said to his mother, “and she will wait.  She’s just friendly and kind to those other fellows, but it’s plain she doesn’t care a pin for any of them.”

“I’m not so sure of that, Phil,” returned Mrs. Ross; “some one may cut you out.  Have you spoken to her yet?  Is there a regular engagement between you?”

“Oh, no! but we understand each other; always have since we were mere babies.”

Mrs. Ross and her daughters had accompanied Philip to the shore, and it pleased Lucy greatly that they had been able to obtain rooms in the same house with their old friends, the Travillas.

Mr. Hogg was of the party also, and Elsie and Violet had now an opportunity to judge of the happiness of Gertrude’s married life.

They were not greatly impressed with it; husband and wife seemed to have few interests in common, and to be rather bored with each other’s society.

Mr. Hogg had a fine equipage, and drove out a great deal, sometimes with his wife, sometimes without; both dressed handsomely and spent money lavishly; but he did not look happy, and Gertrude, when off her guard, wore a discontented, care-worn expression.