“Then I must go home at once, and set about my preparations immediately,” she said, rising to take leave.

Arthur Conly as well as Edward Travilla had been a surprised but silent listener to the short dialogue.

“Can you spare your mother, Arthur?” his uncle asked.

“We must, sir, if it pleases her to go, and for the sake of my two sweet cousins—­Elsie senior and Elsie junior—­I willingly consent.  You take the night train I understand?” turning to Edward.

“Yes; to-night.”

“I shall see that my mother is at the depot in season;” and with that they took their departure, Mr. Dinsmore saying, as he bade them adieu, that he should ride over presently to see his father.

Turning toward Edward, he saw that the lad’s eyes were following the Roselands’ carriage down the avenue, his face wearing a rueful look.

“Grandpa,” he said with a sigh, “I see no necessity for Aunt Louise’s company, and, indeed, should very much prefer to be without it.”

“You forget that you are speaking to your grandfather of his sister,” Mr. Dinsmore answered, with a touch of sternness in his tone.

“I beg your pardon, sir,” returned Edward.  “She is so unlike you that I am apt to forget the relationship.”

“I know you do not always find your aunt’s company agreeable,” remarked Mr. Dinsmore, “and I do not blame you on that account, yet I think it will be an advantage to you, and especially to your sister, to have with you a woman of her age and knowledge of the world.  I wish I could go with you myself, but I cannot think of leaving either my old father or your mother in this time of trial.”

“No, sir, oh no!  Delightful as it would be to both of us for you to make one of our little party, we would not for the world deprive dear mamma of the support and comfort of your presence here; nor our dear old grandfather either.”

CHAPTER III.

                          “Filial ingratitude? 
    Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand
    For lifting food to ’t?” —­Shaks.  Lear.

“This is a very sudden resolve of yours, mother, isn’t it?” Dr. Conly asked, as they drove through the great gates at Ion, into the highway.

“It is, Arthur, for I had not dreamed of such a wild scheme on the part of those two silly children until I heard of it from their grandfather’s lips; nor could have believed he would sanction such folly.  They ought to make Elsie stay where she is, and if young Leland dies it will but rid the family of a prospective plebeian alliance.”

“Very possibly of the sweet girl also,” was Arthur’s grave response.

“Nonsense! it is only in novels that girls die of broken hearts.”

“Granting that for argument’s sake, it must be very hard to live with one.”

“Well; it seems she is to be allowed to go, and my offer removes the most serious objection; yet I have no idea that the sacrifice on my part will be at all appreciated.”