“I shouldn’t need persuasion to gratify you, if I had the money, Virginia,” she answered dryly, and with a significant glance at her father and sons.

There was no response from them; for none of them felt able to supply the coveted funds.

“I think it very likely Cousin Elsie will invite you to visit them,” remarked Arthur at length, breaking the silence which had followed his mother’s remark.

“I shall certainly accept if she does,” said Isa; “for I should dearly like to spend the summer with her there.”

“Making garments for the poor, reading good books and singing psalms and hymns,” remarked Virginia with a contemptuous sniff.

“Very good employments, all of them,” returned Arthur quietly, “though I feel safe in predicting that a good deal more time will be spent by the Travillas in bathing, riding, driving, boating and fishing.  They are no ascetics, but the most cheerful, happy family I have ever come across.”

“Yes, it’s quite astonishing how easily they’ve taken the death of that child,” said Mrs. Conly, ill-naturedly.

“Mother, how can you!” exclaimed Arthur, indignant at the insinuation.

“O mamma, no one could think for a moment it was from want of affection!” cried Isadore.

“I have not said so; but you didn’t tell me, I suppose, how Molly assured you her cousin had no need of consolation?”

“Yes, mother, but it was that her grief was swallowed up in the realizing sense of the bliss of her dear departed child.  Oh they all talk of her to this day with glad tears in their eyes,—­sorrowing for themselves but rejoicing for her.”

Elsie did give a cordial invitation to her aunt and the two girls to spend the summer with her and it was accepted at first, but declined afterward when a letter came from Mrs. Delaford, inviting them to join her in some weeks’ sojourn, at her expense, first at Cape May and afterward at Saratoga.

It would be the gay life of dressing, dancing and flirting at great hotels, for which Virginia hungered, and was snatched at with great avidity by herself and her mother.

Isadore would have preferred to be with the Travillas, but Mrs. Conly would not hear of it.

“Aunt Delaford would be mortally offended.  And then the idea of throwing away such a chance!  Was Isa crazy?  It would be well enough to accept Elsie’s offer to pay their traveling expenses and provide each with a handsome outfit; but her cottage would be no place to spend the summer in, when they could do so much better; they would meet few gentlemen there; Elsie and Mr. Travilla were so absurdly particular as to whom they admitted to an acquaintance with their daughters; if there was the slightest suspicion against a man’s moral character, he might as well wish for the moon as for the entree to their house; or so much as a bowing acquaintance with Elsie or Vi.  It was really too absurd.”

“But, mamma,” expostulated Isadore, “surely you would not be willing that we should associate with any one who was not of irreproachable character?”